How to test ball joints?

[jlex]

Just returned from Atlanta where I compared the ride of my sister's '87 Carrera to my '85. Hers doesn't need nearly the number of minor steering wheel movements to keep the car going in a straight line at higher speeds as mine does.
I was blaming the Pennsylvania roads, or wind for my many micro-course corrections, but I'm now thinking it's something mechanical that isn't allowing the car to hold the road well. Alignment's okay... could it be the ball joints? Question is: how do I determine if they should be replaced or not? How do you test them?
Thanks.
jlex.

[bpcsguru]

Jack up the front end of the car and have someone move the steering wheel back and forth. Meanwhile you can grab hold of one wheel then the other one and hold it. You are looking for any slop in the system. Next you can grab and hold the tie rod. If there is any free-play then the tie rod end should be replaced. If everything is tight, then your problem is elsewhere.

Boris
1987 Carrera 3.2

[stray15]

You can also check by jacking up one side at a time and wiggle with one hand on each side of the tire back and forth, and try up and down, with the hands on top and on bottom. Their shouldn't be any play. If so, it would probably be a ball joint or tie-rod.

------------------
Porsche, Through and through
Tim
'83 944

http://community.webshots.com/user/strayer15

[nhromyak]

I have noticed tires make a BIG difference in the way the car tracks and handles too.

------------------
Nick Hromyak
'85 Carrera 7 & 9 Fuchs
Havin' Fun in Sacramento