2001 4x4 SCrew.

I jack the front of the truck up. Both tires off the ground. Grab either tire and turn it as if you are turing right or left. There is alot of play. Not in the hub but from the wheel thru the tir rod ends to the idler arm thru the center link onto the pitman ram and thehn to the other tie rod end. Is that normal?

I am getting really frustrated at this loose steering issue I am having.

 

the idler arms are very common to get loose on those trucks. but if all the joints are tight it may be a worn steering box. what exactly is the truck doing? does it wander? pull?

 

Sorry I replaced the idler arm and all the ball joints about two months ago. What happens it like when I hit some holes over goes over some bumps there steering wheel will shake for a bit or the truck feels like it jumps on wy or the other.........arrrrgggg!!

Sorry is also does pull to the right just a very little bit?

 

Do your test again. If you grab the tire at the 3 and 9 o'clock position and feel play, your tie rod ends are worn. If you grab it at the 6 and 12 o'clock position and feel play, the ball joints are worn.

 

How hard is it to change ball joints and tie rod ends?

 

The play is from 3 and 9 o'clock.

Ball joints were not too bad and the tie rods do not seem to hard at all.

 

Is there a way to tell if it is the outers or the inner tie rods or is it just better to replace all if budget allows?

 

I'd replace them all. If only one is worn out, the other can't be far behind.