how do you know when they need to be replaced? is there a sound or some kind of vibration?
I also had a 3" suspension lift put on a few years ago. i think it came with new ball joints. In order to replace them, do i need to order special ball joints from trailmaster(the worst company ever for suspension lifts) or can i just buy normal ones from a ford dealership?

my truck is also making that clunk noise somebody else is talking about a few threads above or below this, and people mention the tie rods. I had all 4 replaced last winter i belive, possibly the winter before, so at most, after two years they wouldn't have gone bad, could they?

thanks for the help and opinions guys!
John

 

to check your ball joints.. jack up one front tire at a time so it is off the ground, then try to wobble you tire perpendicular to the truck so in and out the fender well, if your feel alot of play then that could mean a ball joint is worn, also you can check and sometime your ball joints are so worn they pop out of the fitting and you can tell by your tire camber being way off ( when tire sits like this- / \ ) or loud poping as you make sharp turns or off camber turns.

as for your tie rods.. have you ever offroaded your truck since the replacement? sometimes you can hit potholes which will jolt your tires which cause your tie rods to bend easily, it could also be your balljoints poping in and out as you turn or your steering gear box, these are all things that ive had experience with on my trucks. hope this helps

 

I have 01 screw with 160k miles. Relplaced the OEM shocks with the stiffest Ranchos about 60k miles back. Never changed the ball joints.

I have a rattle in the suspension when I hit a pot hole or offroad. It is more pronounced on the left side.

Does this sound like a ball joints or tie rod end problem?

I will jack up the left front tire and check for movement this weekend.

Any other suspension checks to do?