ball joints/ steering
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 783
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ball joints/ steering
I need some help. My truck is pulling to the right. and the inside 1-2 inches of the tire on the drivers front is wearing very uneven. I jacked up the wheel and could not feel and play in the ball joints on either side, but I noticed a very sloppy Tie rod end thats on the pitman arm. like i can take my hand and squeeze it up and down about 1/2 an inch. And it looks like there is some lateral slop in it as well. So that could explain some of my dead reaction times on my steering. Also i believe i read somthing about adjusting the steering box to take up the play in it? does anyone have a pic of where the adjusting fixture is on the box? But the tie rod end on the pitman arm does not explain why that tire is wearing uneven does it? any pointers as i am a noob when it comes to steering/balljoints i have replaced upper and lower ball joints on my dad's durango but i was not the one who diagnosed the problem. so any pointers to get this figured out would be great 
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 198
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From: Albany, NY
My truck had a LOT of play in the front end...always bump-steering from right to left...ball joints and all else were good. I adjusted the steering box and WOW what a difference!
Looking down from below the driver's side battery you will see a small nylock nut with an allen screw in the middle on top of the gear-box. I loosened the nut then screwed down the allen screw 1.5 full turns then tightened the nut.
Play all gone! No more wandering. I also just installed a Skyjacker steering stabilizer since my truck didn't come with one, and THAT made a nice difference also.
The entire front end now feels like our new '07 at work.
Good luck, hope this helps you.
Looking down from below the driver's side battery you will see a small nylock nut with an allen screw in the middle on top of the gear-box. I loosened the nut then screwed down the allen screw 1.5 full turns then tightened the nut.
Play all gone! No more wandering. I also just installed a Skyjacker steering stabilizer since my truck didn't come with one, and THAT made a nice difference also.
The entire front end now feels like our new '07 at work.
Good luck, hope this helps you.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2004
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I will be adjusting the steering box then. But that i don't think explains the bad tire wear. I'm taking it to my neighbors inspection shop to have him check it out to see what he thinks about the tire wear. and the loose feeling tie rod end
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: New Hampshire
Originally Posted by mustang_gt_350
I will be adjusting the steering box then. But that i don't think explains the bad tire wear. I'm taking it to my neighbors inspection shop to have him check it out to see what he thinks about the tire wear. and the loose feeling tie rod end
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jul 2004
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alright talked to the local inspection shop, and he said that the tire wear could be realated to the tie rod end on the pitman arm (part # es3427 autozone) that is the one i had found to be lose today. So he said just to change it out, and take it to a shop that does front end alignments. So i ordered the part it will be here tomorrow. and should be installed buy monday. Then i just need to make an apt. for the front end shop. Then if i missed anything they will let me know what else needs fixed. And after that if needed i might make a small adjustment to the steering box. Not real sure about the tire wear being caused by that part. bcuz it controls both left and right steering, unless that is lose, and one of the tires are out of alignment. I donno guess i will find out.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 855
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A worn steering box should not have any effect on tire wear. It will only mean excessive slop/play in the steering wheel. If you really have as much play in the any part of steering linkage as you describe, I wouldn't even drive that thing to the store to get parts. Some play can be dealt with, but massive amounts like you describe are very dangerous. Something else to consider, A worn joint at the pitman arm will simply act like a worn gearbox, and also should not effect tire wear. The same rule should apply for the joint at the lower end of the drag link. It will mean sloppy steering, but should not effect tire wear. If you have abnormal wear, I would look to one of the outer tie rods being worn. Odds are, if you have one that is going, the service life of its related components are maxxing out. I would suggest you consider doing most of the steering components at once, that way you arent chewing up a new set of tires in six monthes because the other end of what you just replaced finally pooped out. Just my 2 cents.
