Could anyone describe the symptoms of a bad ball joint?

I had a tie rod end and ball joint replaced recently on the front right of my car, but I'm still afraid to go over a pothole on the right side, it seems much worse than the left side of the car, you can really feel it. Also, when Im slowly backing out of a driveway onto a street and have the wheel turned, it makes a lot of racket inside the car and just doesnt sound good.

I wanna enjoy my car again

Thanks!

PS-i'd have to check what ball joint was replaced, upper or lower, as I cant remember off the top of my head. What else could it be though!?

 

You might feel a bad ball joint or tie-rod end as a wheel-shake at highway speeds. But that is only if it's really really bad. The only good way to check is to jack the car up and place your hands on either side of the tire and try and move it back and forth about it's vertical axis. If it feels like the tire can move back and forth just a couple of millimeters you probably have a bad ball joint. Now try and shake the tire on it's horizontal axis. This one is a little harder to feel because the wheel will move, but feel for a couple of millimeters of really loose play. This would probably be a tie-rod end. If you think you have a bad joint, watch the joint as you move the tire and look for the joint to allow the suspension parts to move seperately. You can also put your hand on the joint to feel for movement.

 

hmm, well I jacked it up (rotated the tires while I was at it) and here's what I found.

The tie rod end and upper ball joint are fine. The upper ball joint was replaced ( i can tell because there are bolts holding it on) recently. the tie rod end is new. The lower ball joint appears ok, seal is intact, not too much play as far as Ican tell.

However, it looks to me like there's a rubber boot on the back (towards the rear of the vehicle) of the lower control arm? This boot is ripped and the thing underneath is exposed. the other side of the car is fine, the boot is intact. so i greased it and will keep an eye on it. what is that? it's a steel ball of some sort but that's not a ball joint is it?

 

ok just one more question.

I found these: "Prothane Front Control Arm Bushings" on fasttoys.net.

Any idea which bushing it is that I need, or which one this is? Im a little clueless on front suspension stuff sorry. Thanks for the help so far.

 

Also, greasing that bushing (still not sure what it is!!!) helped the ride quality immensely....so any idea info as to how to replace it appreciated!!!