how to tell if ball joints are bad??

[underpsi]

I am new to the 400ex's and never messed w/ ball joints before so thought I would ask. How can you tell if your ball joints are bad as some people say that alittle movement from side to side in the front is fine and others say that those are bad ball joints??? Mine is a 1999 400ex w/ stock front suspension btw...

thanks

[Scro]

You can grab the top of the tire, and if you can move it horizontally, either your balljoint or a-arm bushings are bad. I prefer to tear the front end down to check everything. If you can pull the balljoint stud in and out of the housing, then they need to be replaced.