Ok, here's the scoop:

I have a 2000 F-250 7.3L A/T 2WD CrewCab 6' bed with ~167,000mi. The powertrain is sound, but I have a frontend problem.

For the past several months, I'm getting a progressively worsening wobble in the frontend....most notably around 45mph. When I brake at this speed, the wobble is worse than while cruising at this speed. It has started to cause uneven wear on my tires (Yokohama Geolander 285-75 16 on aftermarket wheels). I have also noticed a clunking/rattling sound in the front end (driver-side only) when I go over speed bumps or a choppy dirt road. There are no groaning, creaking or squeeking noises. There doesn't seem to be any slop in the steering wheel while driving. It has always pulled gently to the right.

I bought the truck used in 2003 with about 80,000mi (mostly "highway" miles) on it. To my knowledge, all of the front suspension parts are original. There is a Ranch Hand grill guard, but not the one that replaces the front bumper. So there is a little bit of extra weight up front.

The last time I changed the oil, I tugged on the tie rods. Nothing seemed loose. I know.....I probably need to jack it up and unload the front suspension and try again, but all of my stuff is currently in storage. I was hoping to get some advice here before I go dig out all of my tools and tear into the front end.

Ball joints?
I understand they are a problem on the PSD F-250's.

Will unloading the suspension help better troubleshoot the problem?


Please....any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Money is tight and I don't want to take it to a repair shop/dealership. I also don't want to repair/replace something that doesn't solve the problem. I know my way around a tool box and should have everything I need to do the repairs (including a repair manual), but this is my first crack at suspension stuff.

Thanks in advance, and let me know if you have any other questions.


Dan

 

if you trust yourself enough to do the front end work yourself then dig your studd out. put you a jack under either ibeam on either side. stick a prybar uder the tire and try to lift the tire up. any movement whatsoever is bad. best way to check tie rods is to rest the truck on the ground and get someone to shimmy the sterring wheel. more than likely you will have some play in the gearbox but as long as it is not excessive then you are ok. 2wds are not that bad to do just bad on the back. if you need anymore help pm me and i will do what i can.

 

So....if I lift up on the wheel with a pry bar and it moves, that's a ball joint problem?

If there's play in the steering wheel, that's tie rods?

 

If you have ball joint wear, then when you step on the brakes and the wheel exerts a drag, then the ball joint will shift position, which causes the wheel to shift position, and back and forth, etc. While I am no professional mechanic, your descriptions sure sound like ball joints to me.

 

watch input versus output. if the tierods are loose you can see the movement. like i said, there might be some movement in the gear where the pitman arm attaches.