Changing Skippy's tire today (1999 F250) I noticed I can grab the front tire and wiggle it about 1/4" side to side. The other side wasn't that way. What should I look at throwing money at to find out the problem here?




Edit: The wiggle "play" seems to be in a grease fitting on a little bar on the driver's side if that makes any difference. I'll try to post a pic in the morning when God turns the lights back on haha.

 

Choose your part.

 

Best pic ever!!! Thank you!

It's where the drag link connects to the pitman arm.

EDIT: No, I'm wrong. THat's to do with the steering parts. You see where the drag link connects on the left and has a grease fitting? It's that part, but on the driver's side. It isn't shown in this pic.

 

Ball joint? Common ailment on a vehicle over 150 K miles.

 

Sounds like ball joints to me

 

I thought ball joints were play at top and bottom? Wheel hub bearings were usually the cause of side to side play (steering parts aside)?

 

Sounds like the drivers side tie rod end.

 

Here's a pic of the offending area on the driver's side. WHatcha think?

 

That's the tie rod.

 

x2 on tie rod end. I changed just about every part in the first picture posted when i got my truck because they just wear with age and miles. It's easy enough to change just make sure you take measurements (with a tape or count threads or something) otherwise your alignment will be off and you'll wear a tire out pretty fast. Not that I had to do that or anything.....

 

So I just need a new tie rod and it'll fix that? I was thinking I could get away with just tightening that castle nut and walking off

If that's all I need, can I pick this up and I'm good to go?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Steering-Tie...ZXP3wm&vxp=mtr

 

i'm a big rockauto fanboy. that's where i ordered my parts when i replaced mine. like i said the big thing when replacing the tie rod is not messing up your alignment.

 

If 1 is worn the others are not far behind or also worn out.
I've never heard of Verto brand parts so I can't comment on them but I'd tend to choose parts of known quality for my steering components

 

Can't fight with that! So Ford brand here would be OK?

New Ford Tie Rod End RH 3C3Z 3304 CA F 250 F 350 Super Duty rwd 1999 2007 | eBay

There are only two, right? Left hand and right hand? Looks like the duo will cost me about $100 all said and done.

 

Since it has a grease fitting, that one has already been replaced once but not greased since by the looks of it.

PLEASE do not drive it until you get it replaced. It looks like it is about to fall apart.