What is the best way to check for bad ball joints or tie rod ends?

[Valkyrie90AE92]

AE92.
My car tends to wander left or right, especially at hwy speeds. I have been suspecting either the tie rod ends or ball joints, but how do you test for them being bad? I think my shocks and springs are bad (200K on the car), but when it comes to steering, I figure the ends or joints had to be the culprit. The front has 175 70 R13 almost new tires, but it was doing it before I changed the tires, too.


Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[freakinbox]

jack it up...

wiggle the wheel left and right. if it moves and the steering wheel does not then you need a tire rod end.

Put a prybar between the control arm and the kuckle and it you get movement, you will see the play in the ball joint. then well you need a balljoint, you can wiggle up and down as well but prybar is better, since a really bad ball joint can make it seem like a bad tie rod.

But if it moves when you wiggle it and the rotor moves with the tire and everything else doesn't.. then you need a wheel bearing.

[Valkyrie90AE92]

Well, I checked all of them, and there was no play. I did notice that my springs were so soft I could compress them with my hand. I would guess this is a good reason for the weaving left and right.

[89yotarollagts]

^^ Also a good way to check wheel bearings