Checking Front End for Looseness (1988 Pickup)

Anybody with experience care to comment on troubleshooting
looseness in the steering and suspension joints and
connections in the front end of a 1988 Toyota pickup?

When I asked the folks at the tire store to do an alignment
check/adjust, they said some components (tie-rod ends, idler
and pitman arms) in the front end were too loose to do a
proper alignment, and offered to correct them for a mere
$450 (!). I've got tools and some time, and am wondering if
I can check this out myself (to verify that I'm not being
scammed), and perhaps even put in some new parts myself.
From what I can tell, the parts aren't particularly
expensive.

Thanks,

"tbl" <hate@ThatSpam.net> wrote in message
news:qa9vl1tvakri7tqnsqhahd9r4v6adl7abj@4ax.com...[color=blue]
> Anybody with experience care to comment on troubleshooting
> looseness in the steering and suspension joints and
> connections in the front end of a 1988 Toyota pickup?
>
> When I asked the folks at the tire store to do an alignment
> check/adjust, they said some components (tie-rod ends, idler
> and pitman arms) in the front end were too loose to do a
> proper alignment, and offered to correct them for a mere
> $450 (!). I've got tools and some time, and am wondering if
> I can check this out myself (to verify that I'm not being
> scammed), and perhaps even put in some new parts myself.
> From what I can tell, the parts aren't particularly
> expensive.[/color]

Take a look at
[url]http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/PDFs/Moog_Ball_joint_spec_chart.pdf[/url]
, It is a Moog Publication that includes specs and inspection procedures for
ball joints (even for Toyotas - trucks are at the end of the listing).

I'd take a good look at the ball joints before paying to have them replaced
based solely on the recommendation of an alignment shop. It is unfortunate
but true that either deliberately or out of ignorance shops often claim the
joints need replacing when they are actually well within the design
specifications. It is relatively easy to mistake a good ball joint as bad
because improper inspection techniques are used.

Regards,

Ed White

On Wed, 26 Oct 2005 16:46:57 GMT, "C. E. White"
<cewhite3@mindspring.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Take a look at
>[url]http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/PDFs/Moog_Ball_joint_spec_chart.pdf[/url]
>, It is a Moog Publication that includes specs and inspection procedures for
>ball joints (even for Toyotas - trucks are at the end of the listing).
>
>I'd take a good look at the ball joints before paying to have them replaced
>based solely on the recommendation of an alignment shop. It is unfortunate
>but true that either deliberately or out of ignorance shops often claim the
>joints need replacing when they are actually well within the design
>specifications. It is relatively easy to mistake a good ball joint as bad
>because improper inspection techniques are used.[/color]


Thanks Ed... Good info!