2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Ball Joints Clunking: Will It Cause Wandering?

[MacGreenie]

All,



I have just installed a Luke's Link, DSS, Flaming River Steering Shaft and New PSC Steering Box all at the same time and have about 1500 miles on them all. I had alignment and rebalance of the tires and a steering stabilizer replaced as well. The steering is tight, no play at all but some wandering remains in the front end.



Now I get the dreaded popping sound from under my feet at low speed and I assume the ball joints are bad (92,000 miles to date). I am resigned to replacing them with greaseable Moog ball joints.



But will bad ball joints cause wandering on the highway? Granted, all the things I have done to the truck have reduced the wandering greatly, but a little remains and I would like to solve this (as well as the popping noise that comes from under the driver's side that is so annoying and does not sound healthy at all).



Thoughts and inspirations?



Macgreenie

 

[dseabaugh]

I have Darrin's Gear box Shaft Stabilizer on and a clunk under the left side also. My clunk is the stabilizer mounting bolt hitting the bearing on the dss. I keep intending to saw some of it off but forget to. Check yours. The aftermarket bolt is different than the factory one.

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

The alignment shop should not have charged you for an aignment if they knew you had bad ball joints. How can they align it if there is play everywhere?... My truck used to wander a good bit. I changed one worn lower ball joint added the DSS and all is good. You can tell if your ball joints are shot pretty easily. Jack the front end up till the tires are up 4 inches are so. Then lift up on the tires by hand. You should be able to feel any play in the joints. Good luck