THE SEALED BALL JOINTS ON THE RIGHT, FRONT WERE COMPLETELY VOID OF GREASE. THE BALL JOINTS POPPED OUT DURING A LANE CHANGE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL TO THE RIGHT, ACROSS TWO LANES OF HEAVY TRAFFIC. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLES TO THE RIGHT SAW THE INCIDENT AND TOOK THE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS TO AVOID COLLISION. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND, BREAKING APART THE FRONT GRILL. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS TURNED AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE CAR AND CAUSED THE FENDER TO BEND OUTWARD. I NOTICED A POPPING SOUND TWO DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT AND IN THE MORNING OF 12/26/1998 I HAD SCHEDULED A MECHANIC TO SERVICE THE POPPING NOISE FOR THE MORNING OF 12/27/1998. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED TWO HOURS AFTER I HAD SCHEDULED THE MECHANIC TO EXAMINE AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE.