How do you check for worn ball joints

With the tire off the ground graphics the tire and or hub and wiggle up and down while watching the ball joints.

Depends on how bad they are too, but you can also see movement with it sitting on the ground, feel slop in the steering, but the easiest way is to do what Zoso said, lift it up off the ground and wiggle it. Just remember to replace both top and bottom at the same time.

Its best to have the vehicle on jack stands supporting the vehicle from the front axle (or lower control arm) and then have someone try to pry the tire up and down while another person watches the upper and lower ball joints. I choose to put my hand on each one as another person wiggles it up and down slowly. If I feel play I then decide if it is too loose or not. If I am not sure I look for specs on the end play in the book and measure with a dial indicator. You want to do it this way because you can have a loose wheel bearing by just wiggling the tire.

Dana spicer vs moog. Any input

Moog are supposed to be some top of the line stuff, but I've never used them. Spicer are Spicer. I've always had good luck with their U-joints in the front axles & in driveshafts, so I can't complain. The ball joints I used were from Napa, sorry, I don't remember the brand name, and ran me around $50 each. I took the knuckles to Napa & had the old ones pressed out & new ones in for an out the door price for something like $230. I also got the grease-able type with the blue boots. I talked to the guy there and I remember him telling me that the Moogs are overly stiff for a lightweight vehicle like an EB. Hope that helps a little.

Both have high end ones and cheap import ones. I used the blue-booted ones from Napa as they're the better ones from Spicer. After a bunch of research they seemed to have the best reviews.

The balls on my 44 were hosed and I didn't realize it until I had the axle out to rebuild it. I also had a shop press out the old ones (since I had it apart) and install the new ones. When I brought the axle back and put it up on stands I had a horrible time maneuvering it around as the knuckles would freely move all over the place. They must have been almost fused previously.

Ball joint press is one of the best investments a mechanic/repair shop can make. I wish I had bought one years ago. justin, the NAPA ones or MOOG are both great, the cheap ones will not be worth the money in weight.

found out what mine were, McQuay-Norris. The guy at Napa told me that they were right in line with the top quality Moogs.