Signs of a bad upper ball joint?????

[SWINGSAX68]

I get an occasional "pop" on my drivers side when turning, in drive, while holding the brake pedal. usually occurs when I finish backing out of a parking space and put it in gear to go forward...

I have replaced the upper control arm bushings and shafts on both sides...but I have yet to do the lowers. I noticed that the drivers side ball joint was "squished" inwards, like when you squish a deflated ball. so I fattened it up a bit while lubing up the whole front end.....and it returned to that "squished" look again within a few weeks. could my ball joint be freezing up???? it does not seem to hold any grease.....and I do not know where it is going!!!LOL!!! could I have not tightened the ball jount to the knuckle enough...and it may just be moving in and out of the knuckle????
any help would be aprecciated....

also

after drving around quite a bit, the brake pedal gets a bit hard....I think it may just be air in my lines.....any other suggs????

[68C15]

carefully with a floor jack under lower arm remove upper arm from spindle. if ball joint stud moves around freely with little or no resistance it is bad. oh, by the way, after jacking up lower & before removing upper grab top & bottom of tire. if you can move it in & out it is bad also.