I have a 05 leveled.

I just noticed last night that I can twist the tie rods. Meaning I can grab the shaft and twist/turn it and the outer tie rods rock back and forth. The drivers side is really easy to do this to and it will twist far enough that the tie rod shaft actually its the spindle. The passenger side is a lot stiffer but still rotates. Is this normal?

I can grab the wheel/tire at 3 and 9 position and wiggle back and forth with no clunking so they are tight that way. I just don't know how the inner tie rod attaches to the rack & pinion, if it permits rotating/twisting.

I might be able to shoot a video clip of it later.

Thanks

 

That's exactly what they should be doing and you should periodically do this too to make sure. Problem is if you push/pull parallel/perpendicular to the ground and feel internal ball cup slack within the knuckle. It would almost be a click or light clunk. I don't think grabbing the tire would tell much unless someone was watching it hard enough, usually the way I described is really noticeable. Basically it should twist but feel solid throughout.

 

normal assuming you are talking about the whole tie rod assembly, and not just the sleeve. If you are twisting the sleeve then you need to realign it and make sure the jam nuts are tightened down all the way.
-Patrick

 

Yes it is the whole assembly, I thought it was normal. It's just the driverside turns very easy and I know they didn't turn this easy before....must be getting looser as time goes.

Thanks

 

Could also just be how the truck is sitting, with more pressure on the passenger side tire making it harder to move, and the drivers side tire is neutral on the ground, if that makes any sense.
It is all normal. Axial play like your describing is normal, it needs to be free to move as the suspension does. Think of a trailer coupler sitting on the ball.
Lateral play is bad.