How can i tell ball joints are worn.

 

Jack the car up so the tire is completely off the ground. Grab the wheel at top and bottom center. Try to rock the wheel in and out. There shouldn't be any free play. If there is, you got bad ball joints.

How many miles have you got on them? If they are riveted in, they are the originals. If they have a small bolt and nut holding them in, they have been replaced sometime.

 

Remember to place the jack under the lower control arm to take any suspension load off. for checking the upper ball joint, do what Cleburne said, grab the wheel at 12 and 6 oclock (top and bottom, and wiggle it, there should not be any play, if there is, the upper is bad, now to check the lower, get the wheel about an inch or so off the ground, and take a metal pipe or pry bar, and put it under the tire, and start lifting up on the tire, and check the lower ball joint for any up and down movement.

 

Forgot about the lower! It felt like I was forgetting something, but all I could remember was what I posted.