How can you tell when your ball joints are worn out?

[Quadjunkie]

I am wondering how to tell when my ball joints are worn out.

[enduro400rider]

the way i found mine out to be bad was i could grab the tie-rod and feel alot of play in it at the joint, it also made a little bit of a clanking sound from it being all loose.

[400exrider707]

With the machine in the air, grab the top of the front tire with one hand and the bottom with the other. Now wiggle back and forth and if there is any place you will notice it right away. Look where its coming from though could be balljoints or worn out bushings in the a-arm.

[gbcap]

the ball joint should be TIGHT. should take a bit to move it around. if it just flys right around or springs back to straight upright after you move it, it is time for new ones.

[TheFontMaster]

When the a arm separates from your spindle. That's a good time to think about replacing them :p


What everyone else said was right, you should be able to push/pull on the tire, and the ball joint should stay where it is. If it moves in the socket at all, replace it. If they are all the same age, I would replace all 4 at the same time, not just the bad 1 or 2.