Ball Joint Checking
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 1997 Pontiac Grand Am, 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass, 1997 Oldsmobile Achieva, 1997 Chevrolet Malibu, and 1997 Buick Skylark. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
- Raise and support vehicle. Allow suspension to hang free. Inspect ball joint seals for cracks or tears. Replace ball joint if seal is damaged. Grasp tire at top and bottom. Moving tire inward and outward, note horizontal movement of ball joint. Replace ball joint if any horizontal movement exists.
- Ball joint stud tightness in steering knuckle boss should be checked by shaking wheel and looking for looseness at stud end or at castle nut. When ball joint is disconnected from steering knuckle, check ball joint free play by using finger pressure to spin ball joint stud in its socket. If stud spins in socket, replace ball joint.