popping noise

[Rev]

The ball joints are the pivoting mechanism for turning the wheels and allow movement of the spidle up and down during suspension travel. As they wear, the spindles which attatch to the suspension arms both top and/or bottom allow the spindles to move at those attatchments. As those attatchments are stressed as in braking or cornering, those joints can pop and/or make other noises. Also the car won't take or hold a front end allignment and will usually wonder on the hiway. Other steering and supension parts will cause this too.

An easy way to check the ball joints is to just jack up a front wheel until off the ground. Grab the top of the tire with one hand and the bottom of the tire with the other hand. Try to move the tire in and out from the center of the car forcefully with the hands (in at the top and out at the bottom at the same time and vice versa).

If the tire moves 1/4" or more and the wheel bearings are OK and adjusted correctly, then the ball joints are bad. Be sure the wheel bearings are OK as worn or loose bearing adjustments can mimic bad ball joints.

How many miles on the ball joints?

Rev