What is the best way to check ball joints for wear? Thanks.

jack tire off ground about 2 inches

use a pry bar and stick it under the tire and lift/bounce it up and down to see if there is slop in the BJ

helps to have a spoter to help

grab the tire at 12 and 6 o clock see if you can rock it back and forth to check top BJ

might as well check the tie rod ends also

grab tire at 9 and 3 o clock push pull looking for slop in any of the tie rods,idler arm,center link,pitman arm/steer box

do a visual on the rubber bushing on the upper control arms...you want the thru bolt centered in the bushing and not to one side of the bushing...

that will get you started anyways

good luck

Thanks - that is similar to what I did. I just wasn't sure if that was enough force to spot ball joint play, so I appreciate the help. There's slop in the idler arm, but everything else looks good for now.

Hello! Also, Make sure you jack up the car at the lower control arm, as close to the lower ball joint as you can. This "unloads" the chassis weight so you can get an accurate check. Take care! Jeff