1st Gen R53 Cooper S How to tell if you have a bad ball joint?

So lately I have a weird noise I can't exactly pin point if its tire noise (they are just about on wear bars) or a bad ball joint.

some more info for you guys my mini is about to roll onto 100k pretty much suspension wise in the front the only pieces yet to be changed are tie rods and ball joints the control arm bushings and sway bar bushings were done last year and struts and springs as well.

any ways whenever I go over stiff bumps it sounds like im getting a thump noise more so on the passenger side than the driver side. but yet if I hit a big dip that's not harsh on the tire (not like a pot hole) I have zero noise. the car still corners like a champ never missing a beat or making noise (unless crazy pavement with old filled in pot holes) it doesn't get squirlley either.

I guess my question comes down to is there a way other than just listening while driving to tell if you have a bad ball joint? I have jacked the car up several times now and everything feels solid I have no noticeable play at all.

 

Well engine mount is out of the question. because I replaced my old hydraulic one with a tsw mount last year also. the lower was replaced at the same time with a BSH. I can't move my engine at all.

Once we get some warmer weather ill try what you suggested and see what I find. should I unbolt the tie rod end too? or leave it attached to the knuckle?

Also what do you mean by guide support bushing? where is that located?

 

Those guide bushings look ok on mine at least from the top side. When I installed my koni yellows I gave them a good look over perhaps the stiffer suspension damaged them where I can't see? looks like I have a good list of things to look at.

 

I checked those when I initially heard the noise they seemed ok but I'll check again. The noise wasn't there when I first installed them. They've been on the car since September. Never hurts to check again I guess.

 

I gave carlB's method a try seeing it would take too much time. I didn't have any play grabbing the wheel from the bottom. I did however have play moving the wheel at 9 and 3 it didn't wiggle but twisting it moved it. but upon closer examination moving like that was trying to turn the car what little movement kept getting stopped cause the steering wheel lock engaged.

I also checked the tightness of the drop link and the top nut I will have to attack when I have a helper. I can't hold the strut shaft and tighten it at the same time.

I am beginning to wonder if a majority of this noise I'm hearing is because of my tires themselves. Taking the wheel off today I noticed it is eating the wear bars now.

 

Figured i'd update this thread as my issue seems to be more apparent now. I spent last week at MOTD needless to say I thought my car was riding smooth and ready for the dragon... wow I was wrong. The first run on the dragon resulted in thunking sound coming from what seems the passenger side wheel when in tight turns (long sweeping turns didn't seem to make a noise), at some points when taking left turns if I hit the gas pedal a little harder I could hear a louder more apparent thunk, I also noticed that I am getting pretty significant tire noise from the passenger side once I get over 30mph, rotating the tires only helped slightly. I rechecked the ball joints doing carlB's method and couldn't find any play. I'm starting to wonder if I am looking in the right place.

 

I had been talking with Chad about my noises he suggested either the axle or a wheel bearing. I plan on pulling the wheel bearing to see if I can feel any roughness in it. As for the cv how would one check to see if that's bad? I know the boots aren't torn or anything.

 

Well I have vibration when accelerating but I think most of that is nvh from my engine mounts. Perhaps they are masking the cv failing. When driving at full lock should I be going pretty slow? Like doing a slow motion donut?

 

So I tried slow circles tonight after work. Turning left the passenger side didn't click but made a sound like a bad tire would. Pretty much an amplified version of what I hear daily. Turning right resulted in no noise on the left but a duller sound on the passenger side. The front tires are two months old. I did circles long enough each direction to the point where I was dizzy.

My plan for this weekend is to remove everything off the wheel hub and turn it by hand while attached to the car. (figured this way I won't disturb the bolts holding it just yet) also while I'm in the far I will be double checking the ball joints.

Also to add the car didn't feel funny while turning no steering vibration etc