How can I check the ball joint myself?

Here are some steps to check your ball joints yourself:

Park the vehicle on a level surface and turn off the engine.

Allow the components to cool for at least 30 minutes.

Jack up one side of the vehicle at a time and support it on jack stands.

This allows you to move under the vehicle to access the ball joints.

Locate the ball joints on the steering knuckle arms.

The knuckle arms connect the steering tie rods to the control arms. The ball joints will be spherical joints secured to the ends of the knuckle arms.

Gently rock the knuckle arm up and down and side to side.

There should be no excessive play or looseness in the joints. Up to 1/4 inch of movement is usually considered acceptable. More than this indicates a bad ball joint.

Check that the ball joint outer races are securely tightened to the knuckle arm.

Loose or damaged bolts/nuts can allow more movement.

Try twisting the knuckle arm while pushing in or pulling out on the tie rod end.

There should be no grinding, cracking or popping sounds. Smooth motion indicates a good, intact joint.

Inspect the ball joints for any signs of damage like caps that are loose, broken or missing.

Damaged caps cannot protect the joint from contaminants.

Shine a flashlight over and around the joints to view for any barely visible cracks in the surface.

Cracking means the joint material is deteriorating.

Repair or replace ball joints that have loud grinding/knocking noises, looseness exceeding 1/4 inch, surface cracks or damaged/worn joint components.

Any bad joint will reduce handling and braking ability.

Ball joint replacement often fixes the immediate problem, but due to the difficulty of accessing joints, it may be recommended to replace joints on both the upper and lower control arms for even suspension performance and for safety.

Have ball joint checks and replacements done by a ball joint manufacturer certified mechanic if you do not feel comfortable doing them yourself or do not have experience working under vehicles. Badly damaged joints can cause loss of control.