Why do the front wheels lean in?
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Why do the front wheels lean in?
I have a 99 2wd, ext cab, with the coil spring front suspension. The front wheels have started to lean in at the top. I have seen this on a lot of these trucks locally with some miles on them. I wasn't sure if it was wheel bearings, or ball joints, or control arm bushings or what.
Anyone been through this yet?
Anyone been through this yet?
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I doubt it is bent lower control arms. Shocks will NOT cause this condition (however worn springs could).
I'd be betting on upper ball joints.
Do this.. jack the wheel up from under the lower control arm, as close to the wheel as possible (without interfering). Raise the tire about an inch above the ground.
Grab the top of the tire and push it in/out. If there is movement, this is likely upper ball joint play. Have someone push the tire in and out while you look at the upper control arm from the ground in front of the vehicle. If you see play between the knuckle and the upper control arm, it's the ball joint. If you see play between the control arm and the frame, it's the upper control arm bushings. If you see play between the brake rotor and the knuckle, it's bearing play.
Next put a prybar under the tire and pry upwards. If there is up/down play then your lower ball joint is bad.
Lastly, grap the tire at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and try to move it left/right (like if you were turning the vehicle. Any play here is either tie rod end play or wheel bearing play.
Repeat for the other front wheel.
Good luck.
I'd be betting on upper ball joints.
Do this.. jack the wheel up from under the lower control arm, as close to the wheel as possible (without interfering). Raise the tire about an inch above the ground.
Grab the top of the tire and push it in/out. If there is movement, this is likely upper ball joint play. Have someone push the tire in and out while you look at the upper control arm from the ground in front of the vehicle. If you see play between the knuckle and the upper control arm, it's the ball joint. If you see play between the control arm and the frame, it's the upper control arm bushings. If you see play between the brake rotor and the knuckle, it's bearing play.
Next put a prybar under the tire and pry upwards. If there is up/down play then your lower ball joint is bad.
Lastly, grap the tire at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions and try to move it left/right (like if you were turning the vehicle. Any play here is either tie rod end play or wheel bearing play.
Repeat for the other front wheel.
Good luck.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Newark, Ohio
the stock bushings on the upper ball joint is what causes the negative camber(top of tires in) you can pick up a 3 deg adjust bushing for relatively cheap, i would say 15bucks. in your case being a 2wd you can get new elipticals that will be able to take up the slack. so if you discover that your ball joints are ad you may as well get new bushings and/or elipticals
Last edited by cddz; Apr 22, 2007 at 10:42 AM.
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Thanks for the quick responses. I am gonna get to testing through all the checks in the next couple weeks. Before I got to throwing parts at it, I just wanted to make sure there wasn't something unique to the the front end adjustables on these trucks. I'll let you know what I find.
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cddz, he has the new style suspension with control arms, not the old style with I-beams, therefore those bushings do not apply.
Do a thorough examination of your front end components. I'd be willing to bet your ball joints are wasted.. the originals have a life span of 60-80,000 miles.
Do a thorough examination of your front end components. I'd be willing to bet your ball joints are wasted.. the originals have a life span of 60-80,000 miles.
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Originally Posted by MazdaRangerGuy
cddz, he has the new style suspension with control arms, not the old style with I-beams, therefore those bushings do not apply.
Do a thorough examination of your front end components. I'd be willing to bet your ball joints are wasted.. the originals have a life span of 60-80,000 miles.
Do a thorough examination of your front end components. I'd be willing to bet your ball joints are wasted.. the originals have a life span of 60-80,000 miles.
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