side to side tire play... not the tie rods... HELP!!!

[lincolnlarry]

My "04 Town Car has lateral play when tire is off the ground on the passenger's side. The driver's side is tight as a drum. I found this after feeling a shimmey in the steering wheel at 65 mph. Looking underneath I could see that the tie rod was moving with the tire so I thought the inner tie rod end must be bad. I replaced the inner tie rod and the outer since I had it apart. The darn thing still has play in it and the tie rod is still moving with the tire. I have never seen the inside of a steering rack. Is there anything inside that can cause one side to have play in it while the other side is tight? Or is it a solid piece going through the inside?

Any insight would be great!!!
Thanks in advance.

[nfldfordltd]

I assume your wheel bearing is good and well packed with grease? I'd be checking that if you haven't already...start with the simplest/cheapest stuff first!

[Brown_Muscle]

since this is an '04 i assume it has sealed non-adjustable wheel bearings. Is there any noise along with the shimmy? Such as a deeper droning sound? I severely doubt it is the rack, and if so it would affect the other side and you'd be experiencing other problems, such as hard steering. Other's will chime in however i believe to replace the bearing it must be pushed out with a press.

[Piece-it pete]

I'd guess bearing too. If so it should move in any direction, not just with hands at 9 and 3 o'clock but also 12 and 6, etc.

If you do have to change it, you generally buy the whole rotten unit, pretty expensive for the not-junk ones (compared to the old in rotor ones anyway)... looks like this:



Pete

[Brown_Muscle]

The good thing about that unit is at least it wouldn't require a press which makes doing it yourself easier in this case. If it helps at all I've seen a few wheel bearings go bad (or out of adjustment) that only gives lateral movement, when it should have moved in the vertical as well.

[Lincolnmania]

hub bearing would be my guess

[1990LTD]

if it's not the bearing i'll eat my hat


i actually just bought a new bearing for my grand prix, it is also the sealed bearing/hub assembly type.


i have to say that i quite like the fact that i don't have to pack it with grease.

[marquisman]

^ i hope you like replacing them all the time then lol...

[Brown_Muscle]

Is that a remark because it is a pontiac or because it is a sealed bearing?? the sealed bearings SHOULD last almost the lifetime of the car (with normal use and length of ownership aka 100K miles). Heck, My corolla, and subaru both with around 140K miles have the original sealed bearings with no play or noise.

[1990LTD]

^ i hope you like replacing them all the time then lol...

they're currently 16 years old and only now starting to make noise. 160k miles. i might badmouth the shitmobile, but it's not really that bad.

[sly]

^ i hope you like replacing them all the time then lol...

the original sealed bearings on the 93 are still good as of when I left the car with Scott. 200K plus miles on it too.

[lincolnlarry]

Bone head move of the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When I was moving the tire the first time I just lifted the tire from under the control arm... finding the loose tie rod.

After replacing the tie rod, I didn't realize I had the other tire off the ground just far enough where It was able to move a bit.

I guess I better use all the brain cells for the rest of the year!!!! There's a long way to go!!!!!

[Piece-it pete]

It's a good stupid that saves you money

My old 97 MGM had an original bearing on the drivers' side, lasted over 220k miles. Pass side went at, um, 160-170k or so? But in rotor bearings are so cheap.

Pete

[sxcpotatoes]

My '99 Grand Marquis with 234k (iirc) had to have a bearing & upper ball joint done right after I got it from my brother last year.