Ball Joint Checking
- Raise vehicle and place block with a height of 7.0-7.9" (180-200 mm) under one rear tire. Lower jack until there is half a load on rear coil spring. Place safety stands under vehicle. Move lower arm up and down and check that ball joint has zero vertical play. Replace ball joint if any vertical end play exists.
- Check turning torque of lower arm ball joint with joint removed from vehicle. Flip joint stud back and forth 5 times. Install stud nut and using an INCH lb. torque wrench, check turning torque. Turn nut one turn each 2-4 seconds and take torque reading on the fifth turn. Torque should be 9-26 INCH lbs. (1.0-2.9 N.m). Replace ball joint if not within specification.
- Check turning torque of suspension arm tie rod end with it removed from vehicle. Flip stud back and forth 5 times. Install stud nut and using an INCH lb. torque wrench, check turning torque. Turn nut one turn each 2-4 seconds and take torque reading on the fifth turn. Torque should be 7.4-30.0 INCH lbs. (0.9-3.4 N.m). Replace tie rod end if not within specification.