hey guys. have a little play in the steering...stock susp. i jacked up the front wheels and get no play when trying to shake the wheels (side to side or top to bottom). is there a better way to check tierods? maybe i just need alignment...dunno. thanks.

 

there really isnt a better way, but if they are the original tie rods that are on from the factory, odds are that they need to be replaced

 

How many miles on the jeep? They don't stay perfect forever so they may need to be replaced. Disconnect them individually and move them around. If they move freely, replace them (they should have some resistance when wiggling)

 

How about with the wheels on the ground or on ramps, watch real close underneath with good light while someone turns the wheel a little left and right. You should find it. I've seen searing boxes get loose also.

 

its got 106k on it. just bought in Sept, so not sure if they are factory tierods....but probably.

 

I'll do this. Thanks!

 

I'd like to RESPECTFULLY suggest a much more effective way of checking your tie rod ends. First, get the jack out from under your Jeep, ya don't need, or want, it off the ground. You cannot successfully check a tie rod end unless it's bearing a load.
Get a six pack of your buddies favorite beer, cause yer gonna need some help with this, but it goes quickly.

Start the engine, leave the trans in P, or neutral if manual, chock a rear wheel or set a working E-brake. Have your buddy in the driver seat, and you under the front end with a good droplight so you can see well.

While your buddy SLOWLY turns the steering wheel back and forth, L-R-L-R-L-R continously, in only rather short increments (maybe 45 to 60 degrees total), you take a good close look at the stem of the rod end, checking to see if there is relative movement between the housing and the stem. It's normal for some movement of the top part of the stem, but you want to see no movement in any direction of the stem base in the housing part. Make sure you check to insure the castle nut is tight on the threads of the stem. That could be a "gotcha". If you see more than just a very few (.005") thousandths play, replace that rod end. This same method is used at each tie rod end, and at the Pitman arm if your's has a rod end connecting the drag link.

HTH
Bob

Well, looks like Flintstone types faster than I do. He's got it right too!

 

It's all good. Let's just keep the rubber side down!

 

With my buddy turning the wheel, I could see movement in the TRE near the Pitman Arm. Replaced it last night...took an hour. BIG improvement in steering. Thanks for the help guys. Love this forum!

 

Once a shop changed my mom's tie-rod. (Scout 2). A few months later I noticed her new front tires where worn away. Boneheads hadn't set the toe-in! Ground'm right off.

 

That sucks... hope they replaced them! I hear ya though. I matched the thread depth of the old one and marked the spot on the new TRE. Its pretty close to where it was, but I know it should have an alignment. The thing is, I'm seriously considering a lift and I should prob replace the other TREs. trying not to pay for 2 or 3 alignments.

The only things holding me back on the lift are those rear shock and shackle bolts...and the fact that my tires have about 30k left on them.

 

Yep, they replaced them. Who knew that little old lady had such a large angry son! I have this in case anyone is interested;

Toe in Adjustment. (a little toe-in helps keep things from wobbling)

Jack up a wheel, spin it and spray paint a small stripe on the tread. Then steadying it with a block, spin it again and use a ball-point or something to make a nice line in/on the paint. Do the other. Flat and level, role the car straight forward to a stop. Toe-in specs are for at the rim bead. I've had good results with 1/8-3/16 in. at the tread on 15 in. stock tires. If you can't stretch a tape across you can transfer down to a piece of cardboard tapped down with a level. Double check your work. I haven’t had much luck ending up with the steering wheel perfectly straight.
To feel for bad toe-in wear I run (4) fingers lightly in, then out across the tread. Sometimes you can feel it “feathered” one way or the other. $$$ way to travel!