I've been getting a little shake from the front end lately. I jacked it up today to test the ball joints and as I was shaking it from top to bottom I noticed it felt loose. The wheel felt like the lug nuts weren't tight (they were). It didn't feel like it was flexing (how I thought a bad ball joint would feel), it felt more like a loose hub (which was not the case). Is this how a bad ball joint feels or does this sound more like bad bearings? I pulled the wheel and tried to see if I could get any movement by shaking the rotor. I got none. I'm confused.

 

Could be the idler arm. You described what mine was doing when my idler was shot.

 

Do you get any movement when you shake left to right as well as top to bottom?
If so, your wheel bearings might need adjusting.
I had a very bad wobble in my steering wheel that was fixed after adjusting wheel bearings.

 

Do I adjust the wheel bearings by adjusting the torque on the hub nut?

 

Here's a great article on doing it. It sounds more laborious than it is. Once you get going it's pretty straightforward. I bought a wheel hub locknut socket for 10.00 that worked well. My brake lines were rusty so they broke when I tried to move the calipers.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/front_end/

 

Thanks for the help. I'll be sure to let you all know what I find.

 

If it's loose when you shake top to bottom, get a friend to shake it while you pinch the rubber boots covering the ball joints - you'll feel the play and there should be none at all. If it's loose when you shake side to side, watch the idler arm at the shaft for bushing play, and watch the ilder arm and steering arm ends (tie rod ends) for play. It could be loose bearings, and it could be the spindle bushings. If you adjust your bearings, just be certain you don't get them too tight. A bearing can run a little loose forever, but too tight and it will not last a month. (Trust me on this..... <grin>)