Leaning tire? Help!

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Aug 11, 2010 | 10:32 AM

Lawdogiii

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

Leaning tire? Help!

Need some help,,,,,my son's 2002 F-150 4X4 has a slight lean to the passenger side front tire(in a little at the top). Took it to the Dealer,,,,who said that they THOUGHT it was a bent steering knuckle,,,and for $750.00 they would replace it and see if it worked.
I'm wondering if anyone has experienced this and if so,,,,,IS it the steering knuckle? How hard to repair/replace this?

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated !!!!

Aug 11, 2010 | 11:09 AM

Lawdogiii

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

also need to add that the upper ball joint is slightly touching the tire----enough that it left a shallow groove in the tire!

Aug 11, 2010 | 04:12 PM

86capriASC

Freshman User

Joined: Jul 2010

Posts: 37

Likes: 0

I would jack the truck up in front and grab the wheel and try to rock it back and forth, up and down. I may be just bad ball joints.

Pull the tire off after and inspect things for yourself. If it is the spindle then it shouldn't be too complicated to replace. You wound have pop the upper and lower ball joints and tie rods to remove the spindle.

Aug 11, 2010 | 07:01 PM

thecardoc

Senior User

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 292

Likes: 3

That price seems high . You can buy the knuckle after market for less than $200 and install it your self . Can be installed in less than 2 hours with no special tools .

Aug 11, 2010 | 08:15 PM

powersmoked

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 1,716

Likes: 0

From: Boston, MA

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecardoc

That price seems high . You can buy the knuckle after market for less than $200 and install it your self . Can be installed in less than 2 hours with no special tools .

I agree $750 is high.......if you do need the knuckle rockauto has a Dorman for $136........

Aug 11, 2010 | 09:18 PM

steve(ill)

Hotshot

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 11,931

Likes: 180

i would guess worn out ball joints.

Aug 12, 2010 | 08:29 AM

Lawdogiii

Thread Starter

New User

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 3

Likes: 0

Any ideas on why it's touching the tire? I couldn't believe the Dealership prices,,and the fact that they were "parts chasing",,,heck,,,I can do that myself and a lot cheaper as well,,,,,,,LOL,,,LOL.

Thanks everyone,,,,,,guess I'll start with ball joints and go from there?