balljoints on 97 j30?

[pws]

So I had some noise at speed so I checked my 97 J30 and found the driver side wheel able to move up and down and left and right. The other wheel didn't move at all. So I went and got a junkyard lower control arm from a 96 J30 with 120k miles on it. (tried to find new balljoints but they don't make them and dealer lower arm was $308 out the door.)

Once I put it all back together the tire no longer moves up and down but still moves left to right when you grab the tire and move it back and forth with hands on the sides on the tire moving it from front of car towards back of the car. I took the tire off and it seems like the whole strut tower shakes left to right. Kinda looks like its moving from the balljoin area.

The noise at speed and when you hit a bump is now gone. What else could be causing the right left movement? Thanks

Edit.
GF called me and said it is making the same noise. So is this balljoint bad too or what else could it be. I see it moving at the balljoint area where the other side doesn't move at all,

[Rev_D21]

Sounds like the used control arm was junk. I would never go for used ball joints, most of them are going to be junk. Have you checked the wheel bearing too?

[driverdriver]

Bad wheel bearings would create play like you are describing.

SKF makes a quality aftermarket wheel bearing. I replaced all mine a few years back.

[yodawill2000]

Well said sir.
Also the inner or outer Tie rod can cause slack in that direction.

[pws]

Ok so those are some ideas. How would I go about checking the wheel bearing? Do you have to have them pressed in if you change it?

When you look it moves where the balljoint bolts to the spindle.

[yodawill2000]

That sounds like a worn out Ball joint for sure.
If the bearing is going out you can tell by slowly spinning the tire when its jacked up and listen for a Grinding sound.
Almost sounds like sand is in the bearing.

[pws]

Hate buying a brand new lower control arm not knowing 100%. Maybe I will post a video or something.

[pws]

There isn't a bushing in the knuckle where the balljoint bolts up is there?