Component Tests and General Diagnostics

With the vehicle resting on the ground and the parking brake fully applied, perform the following.
1. Have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth 360 degrees and watch for relative motion of the studs in the steering linkage ball sockets.
^ Excessive vertical motion of the studs relative to the sockets may indicate excessive wear.

2. Watch for a loose steering gear attachment to the frame. Another method is to raise the front tires off the ground.





a. Grasp the tire at the front and rear and watch for excessive play in the joints while trying to steer the wheels.
b. Steel, greaseable joints or tie rod joints can be checked for excessive wear by measuring the torque it takes to turn the stud.
c. Remove the tapered stud from its seat and thread the attaching nut back onto the stud. Turn the stud with a pound-inch torque wrench and note the torque to turn the stud.

New Steel Joints: 1.1-7.9 Nm (10-70 inch lbs.)
Good, Used Joints: 0.5-4.5 Nm (5-40 inch lbs.)
Joint with Excessive Play: 0.5 Nm (5 inch lbs.)

^ Some joint turning torques will be as little as 0.5 Nm (5 inch lbs.) within the first 1000 miles and remain there for the life of the joint.
^ Only replace a ball joint that requires less than 0.5 Nm (5 inch lbs.).
^ Tighten or replace loose, worn or damaged steering parts.