how can you tell if a ball joint is bad? URGENT

[kervinridgley@earthlink.net (Kervin)]

You need to drill out the rivets out of the old one and put a new one in
with nuts and bolts.  I guess you could also just have an entire arm
with you if you don't have a drill to bring.  If the ball joint does
fail, there will be a sudden loss of steering control - not a good
thing. Grab the ball end and the hub.  If there is play there, it needs
to be changed.  

Robbie Cotner wrote:
> 
> OK, today the alignment shop said they couldn't give me an alignment
> because my right ball joint was bad.  So I got a ball joint that had a
> few miles on it from my parts car,  and was going to put it on but
> then I noticed that the hub had no play in it at all.  I checked all
> over, no play anywhere.  The mechanic was pretty busy so maybe he
> grabbed the brake rotor and felt the play?  He said it was "really
> bad" and would cost me $130 to fix, and I could only get parts through
> him.  So anyway.....  NEITHER(checked both) sides have ANY noticeable
> play, and I'm leaving on a 2,000 mile road trip at 6 AM tomorrow
> morning.  So how about I bring the spare ball joint with, and have it
> replaced at my destination (about 1,400 miles into the trip).  So do
> you think I could get by with this?  I will almost constantly be going
> in a straight line......
> 
> thanks in advance-
> 
> Rob
> 
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> Do You Yahoo!?
> New! SBC Yahoo! Dial - 1st Month Free & unlimited access

-- 
Kervin
80 1.7 8v Ole Paul
82 1.7 8v The gift 
86 1.8 8v My everyday ride
00 tt600 
icq# 154814286