Testing lower ball joint

Diverjer · May 17, 2023

Got new tires today and Big O, they said I needed new lower ball joints and rear shocks leaking, I said no thanks. Bought home and tested, raised truck up on frame so wheel was off ground hanging. Took 2 foot bar and tried moving wheel up and down. There was a very small amount of moment on one side and tiny amount of noise. Same on other side, less moment and less noise. No tire wear on the old tires and no steering problems on highway. It seems to me a little movement is not an issue, I have no driving symptoms of anything wrong.

Seems to me I been told a tiny amount of movement like that is not an issue? Will try to attach picture or links to my Youtube.

They also said rear shocks were leaking and needed replaced, they seem just fine. Yes there is dust and dirt on bottom half of shocks from all gravel roads, so a small amount of fluid may have escaped and causes the dust to stick, but shocks have hardly any bounce, they are hard and they are overload heavy duty.

Try to add pic of my test, hard to do by myself holding camera and lifting bar. Driver Side if you look really really close you can see small moment of lower and upper mount of lower ball joint. https://youtube.com/shorts/Ogmbsqx7pLs?feature=share

Passenger Side here you may not even see the movement it is so small. https://youtube.com/shorts/V_LXoY-A0QI?feature=share

I don't think I ever had a shock that didn't look a little like this (well unless it was new), they expect it to still look blue like top? It may be leaking a bit, but still strong!

I hate tire stores that do this, should had stayed with my old standby store, but couldn't resist by 3 get 1 free.

Edited May 17, 2023 by Diverjer

rav3 · May 17, 2023

Yeah, probably a 'up sell' opportunity. FYI, it's been my experience that you need to use a large channel type plyers to squeeze the ball joints to see if any movement to check foe wear. How many miles on your truck?

Cupton · May 17, 2023

I just hit 60k miles on my '18 Sierra and when in for an oil change and tire rotation last week my dealership mentioned that the ball joints are showing some wear but not anything to worry about yet. Just something to keep an eye on since we will eventually need to replace. Im going to keep an eye on it and see where we are at next oil change. Or if I start hearing front end noises or wandering as Im driving I'll get it taken care of sooner.

Side note, my truck wouldnt pass the PA inspection because my low note horn wasnt working. I got that fixed, but learned that day my truck had a low and high note horn.

Edited May 17, 2023 by Cupton

Diverjer · May 17, 2023

78,000 miles on truck. I posted some video of my testing, best I could do with one person. Sure there will be some wear, but I don't believe enough to replace. Also, I have friend that if needed would do it for little of nothing. I am just not wanting to deal with doing it myself and don't have the tool I need anymore. Don't do as much as I use to, 76 years old and let someone else I know and trust and needs the work.

rav3 · May 17, 2023

LOL.....I'm right there too! And your shocks look fine to me. Us old guys need to stick together.

Diverjer · May 17, 2023

I checked the tire pressure as they said on paper work, they put in 30 pounds, should be 35. It was really 35, just poor paper work. Also, said torque foot pounds 140 which I think is right, but think they are more? Can't loosen with my 4 way lug wrench, but have another in truck with long handle so I can get more pressure. I work out at gym, can lift 145 pounds without much difficulty. Should have stayed with my old tire guy.

Yea, my special tire wrench that I put 2 handles together to make a 243inch handle breaks them loose. Got it off Amazon

Edited May 17, 2023 by Diverjer

rav3 · May 18, 2023

Yep, 140 ft lb is correct. I bought a 12v impact lug nut remover along with 12v electric jack, just in case AAA can't get to me. I run 35 psi too on my new continentals.

swathdiver · May 18, 2023

Ball joints are done for when there is more than .5 mm of movement. Tie rods are done for when there is more than 1 mm of movement, inner and outer.

If that's oil on the shocks, change them, they're cheap enough.

mikeyk101 · May 18, 2023

8 hours ago, Diverjer said:

Yea, my special tire wrench that I put 2 handles together to make a 243inch handle breaks them loose. Got it off Amazon

Well I imagine with a 20 foot handle, you will be able to break pretty much anything loose...

rlcole321 · May 22, 2023

It's better to test ball joints when "Unloaded", while truck is lifted off the ground, on the frame, place a jack under the lower control arm and lift it up a little to "Unload" it, then check the play in the Balljoints.

Diverjer · May 22, 2023

Thanks, got to thinking that after awhile and tested using lower control arm. Didn't notice anymore movement than lifting on frame, maybe a hair more?? No movement at all if trying to shake tire around. Later when visiting with my mechanic friend he said- lift on lower control arm. From what I told him, he said nothing to worry about.

Seems there are some configurations that you are suppose to lift from frame, I really don't know that for sure.

That one post above was suppose to be 23 inches- not 243 inch handle.