I was just wondering
 

I have replaced my steering box. Put on a box brace and a bd track bar. My tie rod ends seem tight. What else could it be. I can live with the little bit of play in the wheel (it is not very much) but the tires just go whatever direction they want to which I have to constantly correct.
Thanks for any help.

ball joints and such

:pca1:

how exactly do you check the ball joints. when I had it jacked up I couldnt feel any slack in anything.

Jack the front of the truck up one side at a time and check for seperation between the upper and lower ball joint,if there is replace them.Also check the tie rod ends ,have some one get in the truck and start it in park and turn the wheel left and right and look at the the end if they are so call dancing around (poping in and out of the socket) there bad replace them.It does not take a lot to have these trucks wander.Even then control arms can cause problems.

what about between your steering shaft and your steering box thats where my freeplay is now and have you already installed the steering stabilizer :humm:

If all of the joints in the trac-bar, tie rod ends, steering linkage, etc is tight, and you still have wander or DW. Check the control are bushings, and the stampings themselves.

Thanks for the ideas I will check everything again this evening or tommorow.

Got a chance to jack up the truck today and take a peek. The only slack I could see in the front end was my tie rod flexing. Is that normal. Also I have some verticle slack in my ball joints and dont know if it is suposed to. Thks for any input.

You shouldn't have any up and down movement. Sounds like you need to replace your ball joints.

It shouldn't move at all,that goes for any joint in the front end.If they move when you are just jaking the truck up,what about going down the road and you are hiting bumps there defintly moving then.Sorry to tell you the bad news.:dang:Here is a place that has some good joints and anything you need...Dodge Front Axle & Steering

So I definately need ball joints then because they moved up and down about an 1/8th inch or so. Is the tie rod supposed to flex.

Check through this thread and it should answer about any questions you may have on the subject. If you see somethin it's missing feel free to post to it so we can keep the thread updated. https://www.dieselbombers.com/5-9l-2...d-rebuild.html