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Ford trucks tend to wear ball joints pretty rapidly. To check for ball joint wear on a vehicle with separate upper and lower control arms:

You will need two people, a jack, and a light for this.

Set a jack under the lower control arm.

Using a light any your eyeball, watch the gap between the lower control arm and the spindle very carefully as your assistant raises the jack until the tire comes off the ground. If the gap changes, replace the lower ball joint on that side.

Have your assistant grasp the top of the tire with one hand and bottom of the tire with the other hand. He/she should pull outward with one hand while pushing inward with the other, then alternate the pushing with the pulling. While this is happening, you use a light and your eyes to look for any movement between the spindle/knuckle and either control arm. Any movement indicates that ball joint should be replaced.

Lower the truck to the ground and start the engine. Have your assistant move the steering wheel a few inches left and right repeatedly while you look for any inappropriate movement at the ball joint. If present, replace. Also check for any loud squeaking noises coming from the ball joints. Loud squeaking noises indicate rust and impending ball joint failure.

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17y ago

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