Check them with the suspension assembled..Jack it up until the tire is 1-2 inches off the floor,pry on the tire with a long bar and watch the ball joints..

 

you also want to make sure that you put the jack stand under the lower A-arm. Helps isolate and gives you a better idea of ball joint play.

 

Thanks for the tips! Will give that a shot!

 

Hi, You need to jack up the vehicle, and also support the upper control arm. This lets the spindle hang from the upper ball joint(the load carrier) You can wedge a block of wood or a large rubber mallet inbetween the upper control arm and the frame and then jack up car and support with a jack stand on the frame

 

Well, when I had my ball joints checked, the doctor made me turn my head and cough...

Sorry, someone had to do it

 

Isn't the way you check ball joints is by shaking the tire/wheel up/down and right/left with the tire off the ground. If there is any slop, then the ball joints are suspect.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong...

 

One thing to remember, the weight of the vehicle is only carried by the upper balljoint.

You can check the lower by shaking it with weight off the suspension but the upper is more difficult. Most of the time, when there is no load on the upper, it will rattle even though it is fine.

Balljoints are inexpensive, replace them if any question.

 

Isn't the way you check ball joints is by shaking the tire/wheel up/down and right/left with the tire off the ground. If there is any slop, then the ball joints are suspect.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong...

That's how I tried to do it, but it was barely moving - barely noticeable. When I removed the spindle, the lower joint was definitely a goner though. Mustangs Plus replaced the lower control arms for the cost of shipping, so I was happy.

Had it aligned friday and they said it was all tight.

Thanks again for the input all!