ok, previously i would hear a sound from the front left whenver i was backing up witht he wheels turned to the left, it was sort of a loud pop, and i would also hear this noise when braking (about halfway through braking) and this was a single pop, well today i was heading home from school and i heard the same thing but it sounded like it was happening from the front right, over small changes in the road surface. how can i check to tell if the ball joints are screwed?

 

To check lower ball joints, raise the car and support the weight on the lower control arms. Check the play by grabbing the tire at the top and bottom and try to move in/out. If there is any play, you should feel it, but it may help to have someone watching the ball joint itself for actual movement.

Brian