easiest way to check front suspension?

[knightowl73]

hopefully ill be getting an alignment on monday, ill be lowerring my truck just a bit this weekend. i want to make sure they dont try and tell me i need some $125 ball joint that i coulda replaced for $25 before i got there. so is there any easy ways to tell whats wrong?

i called myself checking it out once before because my front would shimmy when i was braking, and sometimes when driving certain speeds. looked to only be a outer tie rod, so i replaced it and its worse now when i stop. im hoping the alignment will take care of it, just want to check it all out before i go.