After you are finished with the emissions test it is time to check the suspension components for looseness. Quick tip: If you are working an an SUV or a pickup truck, you should check the ball joints because these parts tend to get loose more often than most vehicles. This can be performed by jacking up each side of the vehicle on the lower control arm. Try to place the jack as close as possible to the wheel, this will take the load off of the ball joint so it can move freely when you test it. After the wheel is off the ground (about 4-5 inches), place your hand on top of the tire and use a pry bar under the tire to life the tire upwards. If either lower or upper ball joint is loose, you will feel it with your hand on the tire. Now to check the upper ball joint, leave the jack where it is, and push and pull the top of the tire. If the upper ball joint is loose, the tire will move in and out. On some volkswagens the lower ball joint can be checked with the car fully lifted in the air. Just place a prybar between the control arm and the steering knuckly and pry up and down gently. Record and play. These suspension problems will fail a safety inspection. Below is a video of a very loose lower ball joint on Toyota 4runner.
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