General

[PistolRogue]

That could be wheel bearings too; have someone hold the steering wheel and check-side to side play as well. If it's up and down AND side to side, it's the bearings.

[Greenmtnphantom]

If it's the wheel bearings someone is going to be very unhappy when I walk into their office. They only have about 3000 miles on them.

[PistolRogue]

Something I learned as a tech: "New" or "Just Replaced" are not necessarily synonyms for "Good". The other thing is that balljoints typically make clunking noises going over bumps, not a sustained grinding sound like you describe.

[Greenmtnphantom]

I've gotten "bad" parts new before, I know it happens. I also know that if it is the part he just replaced and he doesn't cut me some kind of break he'll be out a customer.

When it goes in I'm asking them to check out the whole front end. I don't want to have to pay somebody to tear apart the front end again to replace something else that I haven't noticed yet in another 2 months.

[Greenmtnphantom]

Ball joints were indeed bad and the wheel bearings were defective and under warranty so I don't have to buy those again. That's good enough for me. Now to go sell myself on the corner to help pay for it.