Is there is certain way to check your ball joints to see if they need replaced?

 

Yeah, jack up your truck, and pull back and forth from the top and bottom of your tire, if there is movement...you need b/j's, also, use a bar and shove it under your tire, pull up on it quickly, kinda like popping it up, any movement would indicate bad b/j's, movement in all directions(back and forth, side to side, would indicate wheel bearings, and movement side to side only would indicate tierod ends, or inner tie rods. also...see this link

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...28balljoin.pdf

Hope this helps...goodluck..I am in the process of doing b/j's on my 94, and they are originals..with 200k...p.i.t.a.