I keep hearing a clunking on the front driver side. Figured it was a ball joint. I went and looked and the boot is a bit ripped. So I should probably just get a new one.

But what got me was that it didn't feel loose when doing the usual tests. That got me thinking... Am I doing the tests wrong??

I lifted one side up at a jack point and did the 12 and 6 wiggle as well as using a pry bar under the tire and got no movement.

But i have a few questions. Should i have both tires lifted or just the one side? should i be jacking it up on the control arm instead of a jack point? Or is how i tested it fine? I've googled lots and seen lots of contradictory answers...

 

you should be able to determine a ball joint is bad by just raising one side, but it's always more ideal to raise the entire front end so you can inspect the sway bars and endlinks too (which is also a clunk point). raising one side only loads the suspension due to the sway bar.

also you should be prying at the joint and knuckle, not the tire.

 

Yes i did that as well. but the old school way everyone says is 12 and 6 and using a pry bar under the tire to lift up so that's just what i mentioned.

My end links i have a hard time diagnosing as well. they seem to be able to move by hand (like pivoting), but there isn't any like up and down play.