Outer-Tie-Rod/Wheel Bearing...

[DigDeez]

I tried to get a wheel alignment done at Pep Boys the other day, and they wouldn't do the job for me because after doing the wheel jiggle, they said since both front tires have {a slight} give at the top and on the sides of the wheel, that I need outer-tie-rods and bearings for the front wheel.

Do anyone agree with this assessment?

 

[masho95]

I've seen a bad wheel bearing give play in both up and down motions as well as left to right. It all depends on how much play there is in the wheel. I've also replaced outer tie rod ends and still noticed a MINIMAL play, which should be normal. It could be normal depending on the amount the tire actually moves, on the other hand you could have bad ball joints and tie rod ends on both sides, very unlikely. The most likely senario is that they are just trying to get money out of you. But if you have a jack and stands, check it out yourself first.

 

[DigDeez]

Well they actually lost out on money by being honus about it. And the give with the jiggle seems minimal to me....noticeble but maybe about less than a half inch. Should I just go somewhere else for the alignment or do the necessary repairs?

 

[SHOoff89]

A local place around here did a number on me last month, knowing full well that my inner tie rods were bad. They even gave me an estimate for it, after the job was done. At least this place is honest, and told you before they did the job that you needed to replace some stuff.

 

[projectSHO89]

"half- inch"!!

Crap! Stop driving it before the wheel falls off!

Allowable movement is less than 1/16"

Steve

 

[rangerj]

Dig deez,

Steve beat me to it. With the amount of "play" in your steering/suspension it is a wonder you have not rattled your teeth loose!

Jack up the front wheel and grasp the wheel at the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock position, and rock it. If you can "feel" (as Steve says) a 1/16 inch or more of movement, then you have either a bad ball joint or a very bad bearing. The movement will all be at the bottom if it is the ball joint.

Next, grab the wheel at the 3 o'clock and the 9 o'clock position and rock it. Again, if you feel the looseness, or the movement of 1/16 of an inch, you hace either (or both) a bad tie rod end or a bad wheel bearing. If all the movement is at the back it is the tie rod end.

If you find that you do have bad tie rod ends and either bad wheel bearings or bad ball joints, you can do your own repairs. Then I would get the front end aligned at the PEP Boys that was honest enough to refuse to do an alignment that would be ineffective because of worn steering/suspension parts.

rangerj

 

[K-Dawg]

If the wheel moves and you can see that the caliper/knuckle is not moving, then it's bearing time.

 

[NetNinja]

Crap that's what My SHO feels like.

When I am driving down the road it feels like the wheels are spinning on an axle that is smaller in diameter. I turn the wheel and split second latter the car responds.

Seems like I am always over corecting my drift.

Hopefully I will be able to jack my car up tomorrow and see what the 6 to 12 and the 3 to 9 tests tell me.

I hope it's not expensive to replace everything

 

[NetNinja]

Well I jacked my car up and did the 12 and 6 and the 3 and 9 push pull test.

I did get a lot of play with the 3 to 9 test.
Feels like 1 to 2 inches?

But my sterring wheel was moving as I was doing this.

It was locked but still moved as i pushed and pulled.

 

[DigDeez]

O.k. maybe a half inch was not too accurate esp. when your talking about 1/16 as too much play. The movement did appear more than 1/16 though. I will do the manual checks and see what I get. Thanks!