Well my 04 350 is starting to show some age. Right now the front tires aren't wearing smoothly even though I've done at least 4 alignments and also checking routers (which were good), change pads.

Right now driving slow I have a real noticeable wobble, once I get at or above 40 I don't feel it as much or it's smoothed out. Today since we've had a day of warm weather I took the tires off the front and checked ball joints (still stock) which didn't have any play as they would if they are bad. I greased up everything that has grease points, were right now from the steering box which has a grease point and while putting in a little grease it started to come out as I was putting grease in, when I felt the boot it was almost gone, and has a rip in it.

Well once the weather stays warmer than just one day I'll be replacing the ball joints and all the grease locations, since if I'm adding grease and it's coming straight out especially on the steering items then there can be a problem. I'll also be replacing pads on all 4 wheels with new rotors and calipers, since having the tires off I was able to inspect the pads and on the passenger side I can see that one pad is wearing a little more. Then after I'll do all that I'll be getting new tires.

What is everyone using for ball joint's and has anyone changed the parts on the steering linkage with new parts and grease able parts.

 

Moog is common for after market. Ball joints are normally checked with tires on so im not sure what your doing

 

Well I checked ball joints both with tires on and off, which there wasn't any play. With my military training I'm a vehicle mechanic and I've seen ball joints go bad and I've checked a lot, so luckily right now there not bad, but I'll still replace them since I'll be doing a lot of work and since the truck has over 81k miles with original ball joints.

Right now I think the alignment is off, especially since this issue all started after we had "snow" in North Carolina and I had to drive home from work, and usually I don't use 4x4 on the hardball or main road, but since the city really knows how to make roads worse, I had to use my 4x4, but I never got above 38 and when I had to turn at a couple of light I turned wide instead of sharp.

I tried getting a video of how badly the wheel is jerking at slow speeds, you might also see bouncing motion which is also happening, I'll try to make another video during the day to make a better view of everything.

20140207_205702_zpsc968726a.mp4 Video by JonArmy | Photobucket

 

Measure the tow with a tape, that will tel you, next jerking in the whell while in 4x4 on hard groung is normal.

 

I've felt the jerking in 4x4 on hard ground before, especially when I was testing everything and realized the ESOF hadn't fully disengaged.

I'll check the tow tomorrow evening since I have to drive about 1 1/2 for a couple of days, if the tow is off and as long as I have my wrench's would it be prudent to adjust the tow without going to a shop.

 

Yup if you know how. Just need a few tools and a tape measure

 

Tow willnshow up in tire wear as feathering on either inside or oustside of treads depending on tow in or tow out.

 

Just wondering when you checked the ball joints with the tire on. Did you grab it and move it around or what?

 

I had someone who is a truck mechanic who is in my military unit, right now the front tires are getting bad, without putting the truck on a machine to check toe and camber which might still be a little off, but I will rotate the tires since the back tires are still good. If after rotating the issue is gone I'll still do a lot of work as stated from ball joints and stuff and once I get all that done I'll get all new tires, this way I'll be starting "fresh".

 

Yes when I checked the ball joints with tire on I grabbed top and bottom and pulled and pushed, then grabbed sides and pushed and pulled. If the ball joints were bad I'd have major movement, yet when I checked I had no movement.

 

Ball joint are checked by lifting up and down on the tire. Best when done with a prybar. What you discribe is more like chevking tierod ends