Forum Discussion

mtrumpet's avatar
mtrumpet
Explorer
Jul 11, 2015

Checking amount of Ball Joint wear (DP Spartan)

Is there a way that I can check my ball joints to get an idea of how much they're currently worn? (Without disassembling anything?)

I know that my ball joints are in fact worn - especially the passenger side. I know this because of the excessive tire wear on the outer edge. Drivers side is showing the same, but nowhere nearly as bad.

Two years ago, I installed grease fittings to keep them well lubed, after I started hearing some very slight creaking from the passenger side. I had a heavy truck shop check them out. They told me that they didn't show signs of much wear at that point, but were dry due to the boots deteriorating (a common problem on my 2002 of Spartan chassis). Therefore the reason for the grease fittings. I haven't had any further creaking since, nor do I have any noises (creaking, popping, thuds, etc.)coming from any of the ball joints, even on extremely rough roads.

As of the past three or four months, I've started getting the classic outer edge, scalloping tire wear commonly associated with worn ball joints. I have an appointment at Spartan in Charlotte, MI in two weeks to have them replaced.

In the meantime, I'm supposed to take a 580 mile R/T next weekend, and then the 450 mile trip to Spartan the following week. For curiosity (and maybe a little piece of mind too) I'd like to, if somehow possible, be able to check to see (how much) wear I currently have on the ball joints.

I had the front of the MH off the ground today, to see of there was any "play" in the front wheel suspension, but there was none that I could produce. Then again with the weight of the components, I doubt that I really could have?

Any suggestions? Perhaps a pry bar lifting up on the ball joint to check for excessive play?

BTW, My Spartan chassis has the Reyco Granning IFS
Class A
  • johnsonbert's avatar
    johnsonbert
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2015
    When you go to Spartan to have the ball joints replaced, they will set the ride height, change the ball joints and also give it an alignment when finished. That is all part of making sure everything is in sync when the job is finished. It two different trips to Spartan, I had a very good experience. Hope it works out well for you. Happy Trails Bert
  • mtrumpet's avatar
    mtrumpet
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2015
    imgoin4it wrote:
    You will get the same tire wear on the out side of the front passenger side if in need of a front end allignment. I was told same by an individual that had same wear. He had front end aligned several times with no correction. That's when he found many places do not know how to do the allignment on a Spartan chassis. He found a place that checked with Spartan, aligned it correctly and problem solved. I had the same tire wear and asked and found someone who knew how to align the Spartan and it drove better and odd tire wear was also gone. The correct procedure has to do with checking ride height before proceeding with anything else but beyond that I am in the dark. It is well worth checking before you pay for new ball joints.


    Thanks for the tip imgoin4it.

    You are correct that severe out of alignment will cause excessive and abnormal tire wear as well. In my case though, I know for a fact that the ball joints are on their way out. I'm just trying to gauge the severity of the wear at this point in consideration of the two upcoming trips that I mentioned in my OP.

    When ball joints go bad, they do effect the wheel alignment. When they get replaced, as you mentioned, the ride height must be checked and adjusted if necessary. A complete wheel alignment must be done.
  • mtrumpet's avatar
    mtrumpet
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2015
    koda55 wrote:
    The way we checked play on cars was to lift the wheel off the ground and put a pry bar or some other item under the tire and lift. You might need a long heavy pipe to see if there is any play.


    Good idea. I'll give it a try this afternoon and see what I find. Thanks!
  • imgoin4it's avatar
    imgoin4it
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2015
    You will get the same tire wear on the out side of the front passenger side if in need of a front end allignment. I was told same by an individual that had same wear. He had front end aligned several times with no corrction. That's when he found many places do not know how to do the allignment on a Spartan chassis. He found a place that checked with Spartan, aligned it correctly and problem solved. I had the same tire wear and asked and found someone who knew how to align the Spartan and it drove better and odd tire wear was also gone. The correct procedure has to do with checking ride height before proceeding with anything else but beyond that I am in the dark. It is well worth checking before you pay for new ball joints.
  • koda55's avatar
    koda55
    Explorer
    Jul 12, 2015
    The way we checked play on cars was to lift the wheel off the ground and put a pry bar or some other item under the tire and lift. You might need a long heavy pipe to see if there is any play.

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