Tie rod or hub problem

progressprogress Wagonist
in Suspension, Braking & Wheels
With my wheels on the ground, I can grab my front driver's side wheel and move it side to side (alternately pushing the left and right sides of the wheel in towards the engine). It's bad enough that my alignment is off and I've worn down the inside treads of the driver's side tire to next to nothing! Now, my question is what needs replacing? Is it the hub or perhaps the inner/outer tierod ends? Any help would be appreciated as I'd like to work on it first thing in the morning prior to heading down to the Philadelphia are for one of my son's State Cup soccer game in the afternoon. Thanks!

Comments

  • bam-bambam-bam Council Member
    I suppose it COULD be a hub bearing, but it seems like you would hear that growling as well. Jack it up and spin the wheel to check that, but...

    Sounds more like a tie-rod end. I know you had a clutch done, so check that all the stuff taken loose to get at the axles is tight, too (strut fork bolt, ball joint) check both sides.
  • progressprogress Wagonist
    bam-bam wrote:
    I suppose it COULD be a hub bearing, but it seems like you would hear that growling as well. Jack it up and spin the wheel to check that, but...

    Sounds more like a tie-rod end. I know you had a clutch done, so check that all the stuff taken loose to get at the axles is tight, too (strut fork bolt, ball joint) check both sides.

    Thanks bam-bam! Upon further inspection after jacking up the car and before replacing the balding tire and passenger tire temporarily with 13s, the problem appears to be coming from the tie rod ends. Wiggles like a mofo! Gotta replace that thing soon. Thinking about getting that refresher kit from ebay shown here.
  • quartersquarters Council Member
    hey

    i ordered and installed that exact kit about 3 years ago on my wagon. i used honda OEM upper control arms/ball joints.
    also did all the front bushings in the control arms and all 4 shocks at the same time.

    amazing, it was like driving a brand new car for about 2 years. simply amazing.

    replaced my steering rack yesterday and had to inspect/change lots of stuff. upper control arms are starting to get squeaky, outter tie rods were shot. inner tie rods were still like brand new, i could hardly move them by hand. lower ball joints are still doing pretty good.

    in fairness to the replacement parts, i think the ones that are worn have been hammered by whatever is causing my steering wheel vibrations.

    all in all, that kit is a very very good deal. don't expect them to last as long as brand name parts, but they will be good for awhile. and it just makes future troubleshooting so much easier. i would highly recommend at least doing the control arm bushings at the same time. it really makes a big difference.
  • progressprogress Wagonist
    Thanks for your input quarters! I am definitely thinking of getting this kit. Way too much shaking and vibrating now. Drove my son to a soccer game and then an hour and a half to another. He said he couldn't sleep because his ass vibrated too much! LOL!!

    Could be unbalanced wheels too.

    I'm also thinking it's my (dad's) MacGuyver fix for my FUBAR driver's side rear diff mount. Thinking of removing the whole RT4WD setup until I can figure out a way to fix that rusted out mount. Welding the rear diff like that shop from PA did for their civic hatch with the RT4WD setup?

    With my luck, it's probably all of the above!
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