how can i tell if my ball joints are going bad. my truck makes a funny noise when i make left turns

 

lift up the front end and while the f-wheels are in the air grab it and see if you can move it or jiggle it in each dirrection. if they dont have grease ports and have been on there for a while replace em w/ some moog ball joints and grease em w/ a grease gun every oil change or so. there was a recall on those upper joints for 100k miles i think. search the back messages and you'll find what you need...

 

I think the recall affected 98-01... not sure without looking it up.

Use a big steel bar and pry between the concrete and the tire while its in the air. They can be loose, but not loose enough to move by hand.

 

The recall order covers model years 2000 to 2003 of the 4x4 Dodge Durangos and the Dakota pick-up trucks with four-wheel drive

 

what kind of noise is it? have you cranked up your torsion bars at all or lifted your dak?

 

the truck is completely stock. the tortion bars are not cranked.. the noice is kinda like a grinding noice. i can also kinda feel it. its hard to describe enless your driving the truck....you also probly would not notice it if you did not drive it every day

 

i would say first off, check the ball joint seals. if they are in good condition, grease them if you can. make sure to check both the upper and lower ball joints. i have had many friends with the same truck develop issues with the ball joints if they do not do regular maintenance to them.

 

do you think i could have a bad wheel baring...how can i tell