Tie Rod / tire wear

Hello all,

I took my 96 4runner to pep boys (okay, flame away, I was in a hurry) to
have the tires balanced / rotated a few weeks ago, when I got back, the
truck shook worse than when it got there. Unfortunately this was right
before I was moving out of state, so I never took the truck back to have
them repair it. Now, today I took the truck into a local pepboys and they
balanced the tires under their lifetime balancing warranty. However, they
also pointed at some movement in the left front tire and said that the inner
tie rod was likely gone. He proceeded to say that I had obviously been
rotating the tires as the wear from this was even on all 4 wheels. here's
the thing, the tires have 30,000 + on them and were rotated for the first
time when they were balanced before I left on the move. ( I know, shame on
me)
so, I'm thinking that this guy is full of it, however, he also said that
his shop could not replace the part, so its not like he was looking to drum
up business. Aside from taking the truck into a decent alignment / front
end shop - which I will do - what do you guys think? The truck never
really shook before taking it in to rotate the tires.


Dave

zephyr wrote:[color=blue]
> Hello all,
>
> I took my 96 4runner to pep boys (okay, flame away, I was in a
> hurry) to have the tires balanced / rotated a few weeks ago, when I
> got back, the truck shook worse than when it got there. Unfortunately this
> was right before I was moving out of state, so I
> never took the truck back to have them repair it. Now, today I took
> the truck into a local pepboys and they balanced the tires under
> their lifetime balancing warranty. However, they also pointed at
> some movement in the left front tire and said that the inner tie rod
> was likely gone. He proceeded to say that I had obviously been
> rotating the tires as the wear from this was even on all 4 wheels. here's
> the thing, the tires have 30,000 + on them and were rotated
> for the first time when they were balanced before I left on the move.
> ( I know, shame on me) so, I'm thinking that this guy is full of it,
> however, he also
> said that his shop could not replace the part, so its not like he
> was looking to drum up business. Aside from taking the truck into a
> decent alignment / front end shop - which I will do - what do you
> guys think? The truck never really shook before taking it in to
> rotate the tires.
>
> Dave[/color]

Get a second opinion from a reputable tire shop. It sounds like your
suspicions are well founded.
davidj92

Jack up the truck by the frame in the front, (this really needs two people,
so get a buddy) have your buddy "shake" the suspect tire side to side. While
you are under looking at the tie rod ends. do you see movement? Next, grasp
the tie rod end at the joint, again, have your buddy shake the tire side to
side, do you feel movement in the joint. If you see or feel movement then
get it replaced, then aligned. If you plan on replacing the parts yourself,
do yourself and the alignment tech a favor and buy the adjusting sleeves as
well.

NOTE: When shaking the tire grasp it at 9 and 3 oclock positions, shake side
to side.

A1) shaking at 12 and 6 Oclock will show bad ball joints

A2) shaking at 8 and 2 will show bearing issues


Searcher

On Tue, 08 Nov 2005 16:42:30 GMT, "Searcher1"
<ACBRN@CS.ver.aol.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>Jack up the truck by the frame in the front, (this really needs two people,
>so get a buddy) have your buddy "shake" the suspect tire side to side. While
>you are under looking at the tie rod ends. do you see movement? Next, grasp
>the tie rod end at the joint, again, have your buddy shake the tire side to
>side, do you feel movement in the joint. If you see or feel movement then
>get it replaced, then aligned. If you plan on replacing the parts yourself,
>do yourself and the alignment tech a favor and buy the adjusting sleeves as
>well.[/color]


I've never worked on such things, but I'm wondering why (or
how, or in what way?) new adjusting sleeves help with
alignment. As I re-read my question, it sounds like I'm
trying to be a wise-guy, but I can't seem to come up with a
way that doesn't sound like that. Hmmm. I really am just
curious (in part because I intend to check out my '88 Toy
truck, and maybe do this kind of work myself, if it needs
it.

[color=blue]
>NOTE: When shaking the tire grasp it at 9 and 3 oclock positions, shake side
>to side.
>
> A1) shaking at 12 and 6 Oclock will show bad ball joints
>
> A2) shaking at 8 and 2 will show bearing issues[/color]

Wheel bearings? Or Rod End bearings? I know I should know
these things, but I don't.

Thanks for your posts.