Q: Tire turns side to side by hand

asked by on December 31, 2016

I was getting my oil changed, and was told that I need the lower ball joint replaced. When the mechanic told me this, it was not upon visual inspection, but because he could turn the tire side to side, not up and down, by hand. Is this a ball joint issue, or another issue?

My car has 141000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

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