How to check front upper ball joint

[charger Downunder]

I have a front end noise when reversing out of a car space on hard lock and then turning the opposite way sounds like a pop / clank noise.

[resq302]

easiest way to check for worn / damaged ball joints is to jack up the car on that corner and get the wheel high enough that you can grab the 12 and 6 o clock position of the tire.  if there is excessive movement top and bottom, those ball joints are worn.  Same goes for checking tie rods only that would be on the 9 and 3 o clock positions.

[440]

Resq302's method is also used to check loose wheel bearings, so make sure they are not loose firstly.

[resq302]

I should have mentioned that I try to visually verify to see if there is play at the joint also to eliminate any possibility of the wheel bearing.  sorry for any confusion.

[cdr]

easiest way to check for worn / damaged ball joints is to jack up the car on that corner and get the wheel high enough that you can grab the 12 and 6 o clock position of the tire.  if there is excessive movement top and bottom, those ball joints are worn.  Same goes for checking tie rods only that would be on the 9 and 3 o clock positions.

you have to jack up the car under the lower control arm otherwise the ball joints will be under a load from the upper bump stop,then get a long pry bar under the tire & pry up & down,look for movement at the lower bj,then @12 & 6 try & wiggle to feel slack in the upper

[elacruze]

Check your steering box bolts for proper torque.

[John_Kunkel]

A popping noise when the wheel is returned from a lock can be the spindle stop (on the steering arm/lower ball joint) hitting the lower control arm especially is the suspension is rebounding at the same time.

The spindle stop is a bump on the steering arm that contacts the lower control arm, sometimes just coating the bump with heavy grease will stop the popping.

[GPULLER]

you have to jack up the car under the lower control arm otherwise the ball joints will be under a load from the upper bump stop,then get a long pry bar under the tire & pry up & down,look for movement at the lower bj,then @12 & 6 try & wiggle to feel slack in the upper