How do I know if my ball joints are bad, or if its my cv joints, or both? I put a 2.5 " leveling kit on my 04 2wd. I'm starting to think I should have left it off in the first place. Should I take it off as well?

 

well, describe what you are feeling/hearing.

cvs usually click when turning and ball joints make everything feel sloppy and can sometimes make a bumping noise.

check for cracks or splits on the balljoints and cvs. also check for grease around these areas.

 

On your ball joints if you lift the truck off the ground there shouldnt be any play when trying to turn the tires by hand, if i remember correctly. cv check the boots to see if there is any rips or tears or grease comeing out.

 

It's not your CV joints since 4x2's don't have them.

 

I'm pretty sure it's the CV's, and 4x2's do have them, pretty sure..... Looks like this: It's what's underneath my 2WD.

 

If you have CV joints you have a 4x4.

 

uhhhh i believe you have a 4wd truck if you have cvs haha

 

If you front end is like this then yes 4x4, but if you don't have the shaft behind the shock then its 2wd. Could find a good pic of 2wd suspension.



or just the fact that you do or do not have a front driveshaft...

 

Maybe this will help, sorry for all of the confusion, I'm not a suspension pro.

 

That explains it. You are confusing a CV joint and your rack and pinion steering.

 

So would that be causing a cv-like noise when I turn. I get the noise when I turn left or right. When I'm driving straight, it sounds like the hum from mud tires, but I have radials.... When I turn, it sounds like 2 wet pieces of rubber squeaking together.

 

When ball joints are bad they can make a noise similar to a bad CV joint when turning.

 

do you offroad or drive on dirt/gravel roads?

you may just need to get under there with a grease gun and lube every bushing and joint. check your ball joints. any cracks or grease coming out of them?

 

It's definately not just something that needs lube, I'm almost positive. Definately sounds like something needs to be replaced. I'm leaning towards it being the ball joints. I'm gonna have to bring it somewhere to find out for sure.

 

WorknPlay04 have you performed this check?? This should tell you if your joint are worn. Move the tire up/down/left/right shouldn't move.