Front end nightmare, tie rods and Wheel Hub Assembly.
 

Okay,
Still trying to work out the "new to me" used vehicle got ya's. I know my front end was messed up so I took it to the local truck place so they can look it over. They told me I'm going to have to replace both forward tie rods, left upper & lower ball joints and the entire wheel hub assembly (WHA) because the baring is shot. I can do all that myself but the guy at the Firestone place told me that I can't just get nor do they sell just the baring for the WHA and that I had to purchase an entire WHA. True or false???

If I "can" purchase just the replacement baring for WHA any advice on where to get it.

Also, the tech said the right side was all good. Don't think its a good idea to just do the left side and leave the right side alone...Thoughts?

Thanks

first don't take it to a tire shop they don't know what they are doing take it to a different shop just in case you don't need all that done. i know someone who didn't take it to another shop and he over paid for his stuff and got parts replaced that didn't need to be replaced. its going to be expensive to repair. i had to get mine fixed i paid to get mine done just wanted to make sure you weren't getting ripped out of money. i just don't trust tire shops to work on trucks let alone Firestone .

yup, I'm with you. That is why I do most of my stuff. Save lots of money and I know its going to be done right. A ask the tech to physically show me which parts where bad and he did. The left front wheel is really bad. Just wanted to know if what he said about the wheel hub assembly baring not being sold separately. He made it sound like the only way the can get that WHA fixed is to buy the whole Assembly. True???? or not.

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Okay, I just when through YouTube and the bearing is sold separately. Wanted to know if anyone can suggest a good brand of bearing?

Thanks again.

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By the way, is it possible to replace the steering tie-rod ends, or do I have to buy the complete tie-rod new?

i thought the WHA was a complet sealed unit. never seen just the bearings. the tie rods are sold by "ends" the short piece is a end, and so is the long one. so you have to buy everything. if timken makes the bearings, get them. take yours apart and there should be a number on the breaings and race. OR, buck up and look up dynatrac. they make a spindle kit for the SD's.

You need to buy the whole hub assembly they are sealed bearing like fordornothing said..:tu:

Thanks for all the info.

Additionally, what is the correct way to test your tie-rods. I grabbed both front tie-rod and they move up and down not side to die. Are they supposed to do this?

the best way is to pull them off. do you know what a pickel fork is? the tie rod end is a mini ball joint. so the shaft shouls have circular motion but it should not have any in and out play. if it does, they are bad.

Nope don't know what a pickel fork is, I'm assuming its some tool to test the tie rods while they are on. I'll take them off and see if there bad.

Thanks again.

Just have someone sit in the truck without it running and gently rock the steering wheel back and forth while you look under the front end. You'll see play where the tie rods are bad. :c:

Large tool with two tines on it, like a fork you would grab a pickle with.

Rent one from O'reillys or Auto Zone, pull your cotter pin, remove nut and place the angle portion of the fork on the tie rod side with the flat portion against the steering knuckle. Strike until it pops loose.

It helps to wind the nut on a couple of turns to keep the tie rod from flying about.