Notices
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners 2nd/3rd gen pickups, and 1st/2nd gen 4Runners with IFS

Signs of bad ball joints?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 26, 2007 | 01:50 PM
  #1  
JoKEpLaYeR's Avatar
Thread Starter
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 880
Likes: 0
Signs of bad ball joints?

I'll get some pics up tomorrow, I've got class tonight. My passenger side wheel has a really odd motion path right now. When I steer hard right or are going straight, it sits normal/perpendicular to the ground.... but when I steer hard left, it goes toe in HARD!!!!

Sits like this:
\--o--| on hard left and |--o--| on straight and hard right.

Looks like the wheel is gonna fall off, or fold under the truck. I'd assume that the "top" of the 'wheel attachment system' is where the problem lies.... so that leads me to assume ball joints? Thoughts?
Reply
Old Sep 26, 2007 | 03:36 PM
  #2  
86tuning's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 738
Likes: 2
From: Vancouver, BC
jack it up on stands and wiggle around... you'll see what's worn out really quick that way.

Any visible movement in any of the balljoints or tie rod ends = worn out piece.

The lower balljoints can have up to 1/16" VERTICAL movement when checked with a prybar, see the service manual for details.
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2007 | 12:11 PM
  #3  
JoKEpLaYeR's Avatar
Thread Starter
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 880
Likes: 0
Someone mentioned a bent idler arm could be the root of the problem.... thoughts?
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2007 | 12:35 PM
  #4  
slosurfer's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,124
Likes: 0
From: Los Osos, CA (we can't agree on crap!)
Worn out bushings in your idler arm will allow for a ton more movement than normal. Not sure if it would do that but it's worth checking.
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2007 | 12:37 PM
  #5  
MudHippy's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,106
Likes: 27
Originally Posted by JoKEpLaYeR
Someone mentioned a bent idler arm could be the root of the problem.... thoughts?
No not the idler arm. If it's bent the only thing that would change would be the toe-in adjustment. Oh, and what you call "toe in" is really "top out" or positive camber. Something just occured to me though...

O.k., so what I see happening in my head is one of your lower control arm bushings is loose, or rather the cam bolt is. When you turn left the lower control arm is being pulled out of alignment. Then it gets pushed back into alignment when you turn straight or right.

The one that I'm guessing is loose is the front right camber adjustment bolt.

It could also maybe be loose wheel bearings or one of your ball joints too.
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2007 | 12:37 PM
  #6  
JoKEpLaYeR's Avatar
Thread Starter
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 880
Likes: 0
Idler arm is only about a year old. Does the steering arm have bushings on it too? I've never cleaned the grease off of it to look.
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2007 | 01:50 PM
  #7  
MudHippy's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 6,106
Likes: 27
If you mean the pitman arm, no bushings. Why is there grease on it? On the tie-rod end hopefully.
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2007 | 02:12 PM
  #8  
ovrrdrive's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 3
From: Central Florida
Originally Posted by MudHippy
O.k., so what I see happening in my head is one of your lower control arm bushings is loose, or rather the cam bolt is. When you turn left the lower control arm is being pulled out of alignment. Then it gets pushed back into alignment when you turn straight or right.

I agree with you... That's the only thing that it could possibly be. It's either a loose cam bolt or a worn out bushing in the LCA.
Reply
Old Sep 28, 2007 | 03:20 PM
  #9  
slosurfer's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,124
Likes: 0
From: Los Osos, CA (we can't agree on crap!)
I agree about the LCA's, also when was the last time your wheel bearings were packed?
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
krimsonone
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
8
Sep 13, 2024 09:33 AM
GreatLakesGuy
The Classifieds GraveYard
8
Sep 4, 2015 09:27 AM
rustym
93-98 T100s
2
Aug 7, 2015 10:39 AM
coffey50
Offroad Tech
17
Jul 28, 2015 10:55 AM
ksmudrunner99
Newbie Tech Section
3
Jul 21, 2015 05:33 AM




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:09 PM.