front end issue

[betty the danger ranger]

I have a 1993 4X4 Ford Ranger. A mechanic told me about 9 months ago that I would need to have the ball joint bearings replaced within the next year or so. The truck recently started shuddering and making a grinding sound when I brake. It makes a grinding/whirring sound when I am driving and I can feel instability with steering. Does this sound like the ball joint bearings? Any advice would be great. Thanks!

 

[4x4junkie]

The steering instability might be, but grinding while braking doesn't sound very consistent with bad ball joints (sounds like your brakes and/or possibly your wheel bearings are done too).

Have you jacked the frontend up to check things out?

 

[sfwjesse]

Could be a combination of warped rotors, bad ball joints or pads worn down the the rivets. Jack up the front tire about 1" off the ground and put a crow bar under it. Pull up on the crowbar and see how bad the clunk sound and movement is. If you are getting significant movement up and down you need to replace the ball joints asap....its a safety issue.

 

[sfwjesse]

and yes the wirring could be the bearings....those will "clunk" as well when you lift up. I usually have someone pull on the crow bar while i look behind the wheel. If you watch the ball joints and dont see movement...then any clunk will probably be the bearing.