Suspension 101

[BLKF250]

Ok i got an 05 F250 and i want to know a little bit about the suspension
ball joints what are the sign and symptons of them, how can you tell that there going bad? My sterring bar i believe if thats what its called correct me if iam wrong. The bar that is in the front that goes to the drive side to the passenger side thats connected by ball joints has a good half an in or more play in it is that normal?... Truck seems to have a little play in the sterring wheel and when i hit the brakes it seems like its gonna go all over the road anyone have any idea on what it can be? my lower and upper ball joints look good there no play inthem or anything...just alot of play in the sterring bar unless if thats how its suppose to be

[magnumpeei]

check your pitman arm too...bolt on top of it might be loose.

[APEowner]

The bar that is in the front that goes to the drive side to the passenger side thats connected by ball joints has a good half an in or more play in it is that normal?

A half inch! No that's not normal and it's really dangerous! If it really has that much play in it then it's about to fall apart. If that happens then you have no steering at all. I wouldn't even trust it enough to drive it to a shop.

I normally encourage DIY projects but since this is clearly out of your area of expertise and it's potentially life threatening I think you need to get that towed to a shop and fixed ASAP.

[GoFastPadre]

Originally Posted by APEowner

A half inch! No that's not normal and it's really dangerous! If it really has that much play in it then it's about to fall apart. If that happens then you have no steering at all. I wouldn't even trust it enough to drive it to a shop.

I normally encourage DIY projects but since this is clearly out of your area of expertise and it's potentially life threatening I think you need to get that towed to a shop and fixed ASAP.

X2 ASAP! before you kill yourself or worse someone else.

[mrgrimm]

If you are grabbing it in the center and twisting north-south then yes it's gonna have play and thats normal...You need to have both front tires jacked off the ground and grab each wheel at 9 and 3 o'clock and firmly wobble the wheel back and forth to check your TIE ROD ENDS (at each end of your "steering bar"). If you feel or hear it moving then you have problems. Best to check front end with 2 people so one can see exactly where the movement is.