Is there a way to check Ball joints with wheel off??

[AlaskanJack]

I've been working on my passenger side wheel and have had the rotor and bearings off for a while. I am replacing a worn steering knuckle and didn't check the ball joints for wear before removing wheel and rotor.

Can I re-use the ball joints once I press them out of old knuckle? Is there a way to tell if they are still good without mounting tire? If there is some way someone can tell by visual inspection I can post some pics.

 

[MrShorty]

I know some manufacturers would give a spec for how hard it should be to turn the ball joint stud within the ball joint (if that made sense). I haven't seen such a specification for our ball joints, but maybe you could go into a parts shop and pull a new joint out of the package and feel how tight it feels and then compare that to your old ones when they come out.

 

[AlaskanJack]

I will check when I pull them in the next hour or so. Thanks

 

[X-1]

I just did mine, and the new ones where impossible to move around by hand, my old ones were really loose. If this is for sport with 35's, and they are easy to move around, then I would replace them, I have 10 inch wheels, and the other side seemed fine before I put the wheels on, now they need replacing, so to save you the trouble later, it may pay to replace now. I replaced the passenger side, now I need to replace the driverside.

 

[RiverRat]

How old are the BJ's? Since you are replacing the steering knuckle it might make sense to replace the ball joints too.

What was wrong with the knuckle?

 

[NOTAJP]

Originally posted by RiverRat
How old are the BJ's?

hehehehe he said BJ

OK, it's late and I'm a little loony

 

[NOTAJP]

Seriously though, I would replace them while I had them out anyway. I have seen some really good deals go through eBay on ball joints.

 

[AlaskanJack]

I've seen some good buys on Ebay as well but unfortunately time doesn't allow.

here is the pic of what happened when my bearings went and my rotor rubbed on my knuckle.

 

[AlaskanJack]

okay guys need help with busted cotter pin on lower ball joint

please read this post and help me!! http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=76344