Few ball joint questions

[2faststealth4u]

As I begin to drive and work on my new vr4 I am beginning to tackle these issues. The car clunks and clatters over bumps,drive ways, and even small road patches. I've read so much on doing these that I have a head ache. I need straight answers, should I pull the control arm and take it to a machine shop and have them remove the old ones and press in the new, or replace the LCA. Problem with LCA is $$$$ big money that I don't have.
Also on the parts if you go to ebay they have these premium ones for a little more 40$ for both are these worth it? Thanks guys
Ryan

[DocWalt]

You can rent the ball joint press from Advance or AutoZone with a deposit and then swap them yourself. I'd recommend replacing the LCA bushings too.

[Bloodlust182]

The front ball joints are moog k9855. Pretty easy to replace em. Is your suspension OEM? If you have bad upper mounts they tend to clunk over bumps. I had some "moevtec" or how ever you spell it that lasted all of a year then crapped out after the warranty was up and started clunking.

[2faststealth4u]

Okay so I took a shot in the dark and missed lifted the front end up and rocked the tires and 12 and 6 with no movement or clunking.. Sooo shocks?

[Bloodlust182]

To check the ball joints you will need to pry on the control arm on the tire. If there is any play then you have bad ball joints. Another place to look is the sway bar end links or the strut upper mounts.

[sohcstealth]

Checking ball joints does not require prying of any sort.

Like the OP has already done, simply raise the front end and place your hands at 12 and 6. Try to rock the wheel from this position. Nine times out of ten, if there is no play, the ball joints are good.

You can repeat this process, with your hands at 9 and 3, to check your tie rod ends.

Sent from my Nexus S

[2faststealth4u]

No movement to matter how I tried lol.. Thanks sohc

[sohcstealth]

No problem bud. Like another poster already stated. The noise is most likely the upper strut mounts or control arm bushings.

Also, it can't hurt to check that all suspension hardware is tight. Don't over tighten or you may break something.

Sent from my Nexus S