I hadn't noticed the play in the ball joints because the bushes were so worn and taking all the slack out of the arm. I had the bushes replaced with powerflex and then it sounded like the suspension was gonna fall off. The stiffness of the polys must have transferred all the slack to the bj's. Even after the ball joints were replaced the mechanic said he still couldn't actually feel any play in them but on the road there is masses of difference. I don't have the annoying clunk it had developed since changing to polys and the car seems much more together.