If you jack up one side of the car at a time (only 4 or 5 inches), you can put a long bar under the
front tire. Lift on the end of the bar and feel for movement (might have someone watch for you, but don't crawl under the car). If
there is any movement in the lower ball joint at all then it needs replacing. Unless you can see actual
wear on the bushings you may have to unload the torsion bars to feel play in the bushings. And
if they have not been replaced before you might as well do it now if there is any doubt. By the way, the bushings would
have to be awfully worn to make a lower ball joint go bad that quickly.