What is the best way to check the ball joints. some say load on others say load off. and how much movement is acceptable.

 

To be honest with you,very little play allowed when the a-arm is attached and snugged down on the ball joint.If one starts to have play,usually not not long before it really needs to be replaced and that's where a lot of people have problems,especially if they suck the joint out when trying to pull it to replace with a new one. Best to catch one early before you have one like this or even worse if one happens to break on you. I've had a lot of wreck jobs to repair over the years because of folks over looking ball joints.

 

Thank you OPT. Appreciate your insight.

 

so you check with the wheels on the ground or jacked by the frame wheels floating? mine doesnt move with weight on it, but with the wheekls off the ground i get slight movement pressing back and forth toward the strut

 

Yes with the load off the front tires you may have slight bit of play on the ball joint,but if it's not excessive I wouldn't worry about it.