Bad upper ball joint?

2006 DCSB Sport Package. I just got new wheels and tires all around and decided to go with 265/70/17 rather than the stock 265/65/17. Aftermarket wheels have the same offset, backspacing, and tire width as the stockers- just got sick of the corroded alloy look.

I noticed shortly after their install a pretty faint clunk in the front end when I am turning and hitting a bump- doesn't matter whether I am turning left or right though. Seems to be progressively getting worse, but nothing I was worried about at first. After some searching and fine tooth combing over on the truck, I noticed:

1) It looks like the wheels might be slightly rubbing on the mudflaps. I'm not too worried about that though as I can trim them up if necessary.

2) These pictures are what is worrying me. It appears that something is going on with my upper ball joint, but I have absolutely no experience with them and am pretty well clueless when it comes to trouble shooting them.

I won't have access to a floor jack until later Sunday so I can't wrench around on the wheels to see if there is any play going on. If anyone else has any similar experiences trouble shooting this same problem or has any advice to what they think the problem/solution could be, please feel free to fire away!

 

Boot blew out/tore, lets dirt in, dirt kills ball joint if age hasn't already.

It needs replaced.

Either all new Upper Control Arms, or see if the stock ball joint can be pressed out and replaced. I haven't done them on these trucks so I don't know if they can or not.

 

X 2 ^

 

There is a clip that locks them in place. remove that and then it has to be pressed out and a new one pressed back in place. You may end up removing the control arm from the truck if you do not have the right tools.

 

Unfortunately I had suspected that was the case. I was planning on getting a new set of 5100's in the near future after I take it in and (hopefully) get a frame replacement under the latest frame LSC for the 05-08 models. I'd like to get that thing squared away asap though so maybe I'll just go the whole control arm route instead?

 

so have you decided on complete upper arm?

 

Yeah I ended up just replacing both UCA's with a stock set I bought on here