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2wd front end troubles

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Old Mar 11, 2006 | 05:27 PM
  #1  
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2wd front end troubles

I have 166K miles on my 95 f150, and the front end seems like there is something majorly wrong with it. It shakes really bad at low speeds, and it is out of line really bad too. I talked to my dad about it and he was telling me that the parts on the front end are wore out. Is was wanting to know what i'd need to replace to get this thing back in line, and if this is a common problem with the front ends. I'm planning on driving this thing on the highway alot, but it's rough driving it when the steering wheel is vibrating back and forth really fast, kind of wears you out.
 
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Old Mar 11, 2006 | 09:31 PM
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It could be a number of things but if the steering wheel is moving that much I would take a look at the front tires to see if there is a broken belt. At least check before you have a blowout on the highway.
 
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 06:44 PM
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I've put new tires on them and had them balanced a while ago. It's been doing this for a while, but i'm starting to get worried about it. I'd like to know what's the matter with it so i can replace whatever's broke or wore out on it.
 
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 07:11 PM
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Sound like you've probably got a bad balljoint or four. Jack the front end up and see if you can wiggle the front tires by pulling on the top and bottom of them (pull out and push in).

Jason
 
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 07:21 PM
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ok, i'll try it out tomorrow. I'd like to get it fixed, i'm taking a trip to canada this september and i don't need anything breaking down on me.
 
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 08:16 PM
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Sounds Like Tires
 
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 08:45 PM
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my brother and i just did the upper and lower ball joints on his 92 F-150 went good and if yours is bad i suggest renting the ball joint press it made it much easer.
 
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 08:48 PM
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i'm probably going to get them fixed at a shop. I was talking to my dad and he told me that it needs new bearings tie rods bushings and ball joints, so i'll just have a shop do it all at once.
 
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 09:03 PM
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if you take it in and the bid price comes back relly high it went really well if you got time and tools. but i would still jack it up like jason suggested and do a pre-check your self unless you know the shop relly well.
 
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Old Mar 12, 2006 | 09:06 PM
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yeah, I forgot to mention, the tires are pointing out on the top (i guess this is called positive camber) and I'm pretty sure they're not the tires because i put new ones on about 10K miles ago, and it was wobbling then.
 
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Old Mar 13, 2006 | 01:46 PM
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well I don't know about all That But it Sounds like to me that you have tie rod problems an allignment shop will eat you up in labor and over inflated parts it is a symple job to do just make sure you count the turns when taking the tie rod end off even a 1\4 of a turm is noticable diffrencegood way to check to see if it is your tie rods jack the fron up by the fram and let the suspention go all the way down w/ both tires off the ground have a friend look at the wheel and move the tire back and forth if it has sloop in it then it is mos deffintly your tie rods the cheapest place i have found parts is rockauto.com after you take care of the tierod issue your tires also can make a tierod problem seem 100 X worse so it is not a bad idea to have the ballenced if for nothing other then S&G'S check it out keep us posted
 
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Old Mar 13, 2006 | 10:44 PM
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ok, thanks for the replies guys. I'll check the tie rods out tomorrow (it's been raining pretty bad here). So do you think the ball joints would make it like this too?
 
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 02:04 AM
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yes the ball joints could have the same symtoms but for the year of the truck it has probley never hat the tierod ends replaced and then it could be a combination of both
I feel the best thing you could do is take it to an allign ment shop and have them check it out if you don't have some one who knows what is what see if they will give you a free detailed estament then if it is a task that you are farly comfident you can do then proceed if not bite the bullet and pay a pro but like i said in my last post the parts are 200% mark up at most places if not more i made the misstake of sending my wife to get her car alligned and she called thank god they wanted $245.00 to replace the DS inner tie rod and PS outter i got the parts for 20 and did it my self it ain't that complex and you can get the tools you need to do it on loan from auto zone ok 1 last thing and i'll put the soap box away dose it make any strange sounds like squeaking or grinding worn out wheel bearing could make your wheel wobble but i don't think it could be as bad as you discribe it to be
 
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 05:58 AM
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Originally Posted by bergie76
Sounds Like Tires
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 06:32 AM
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have 94 and the tie rods were good but every truck will be different the way it driven so check it all.
 
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