Originally Posted by rockhound
x2 on merrill axle,
there is a very minimal amount of play allowed in the ball joint. lift the front end and place a lever under the tires. if they lift up and down on the joint easily or rock in and out when leverage is placed on the upper and lower outside of the tire, they could very well be worn out. if you have the cummins diesel weighing down your front end like i do, i would be surprised that you went this long without needing new ones. the factory ball joints are not known for their longevity.
mine went out at about 87k miles, the dealer said they were still in factory spec, but they had way too much play ion them and the wear was showing in my tires, but i also live in the mountains and have a twisty ride for a commute. when i used to commute.
carquest has a nice set of adjustables, they are not hard to replace if you are mechanically inclined. harbour freight has a ball joint tool for 39 bucks that will do the job.