ball joints?

[PBax]

last weekend noticed a pretty good pull to the right when braking. Took it to my buddy's shop....right caliper was a little rusted with a bunch of other crap jammed in there...right brake pade was almost gone. (38k miles) He tore it all apart, cleaned it up, and put in new brake pads on both sides. OK, solved but truck doesn't drive firm at all...it wobbles side to side at the smallest of bumps....i had noticed this before but not as bad...i was stumped but kept driving.

OK...no pulling to the right just loose steering i guess is what you call it. tonight its pulling to the right again....


5k miles ago is when i first noticed the truck not driving straight at hwy speeds. took it to a shop to be aligned...was told the ball joints were going out..too much play in the joints. took it to dealer (33k)....they say you MUST have atleast 1/4 inch play in the joint...so its normal. took it to another shop...they aligned and said the alignment was off some...didnt notice anything in the ball joints.

OK...driving straight again although you can wiggle the wheel at hwy speeds and feel the truck wobble a little bit....This "wobbling" was horrible when i had 285 load range D mudders installed at 28k but i gave the credit to the tires for that one. 265 toyo load range E's installed now...still a slight wobble. kept on driving past 36k and then developed the pulling to the right...

I am thinking i have bad ball joints....anyone agree?

I had it at the dealer for this problem BEFORE 36k...i have no proof that i was there that day for that problem....what do i do? I'm going to the dealer first thing in the morning to talk about whats goin on. we'll see.

thinking back on it now...this problem was worse with 285 mudders with softer rubber because the tire was taller and would thus sway more....back to 265 E's and the truck won't sway as much because of a shorter, more firm tire.