Rep Power: 453

I am just curious. I was talking with a tech at work today who was working on a 92 civic replacing a timing belt, water pump and figuring out where the massive oil leak was coming from when I noticed that he was shaking the tire from side to side and it had alot of movement. But when he pushed the tire in and out, it didnt have very much movement. He told me the side to side movement is worn out tie rods. And the in and out movement would be worn out ball joints? Is this correct? I always thought that any in and out movement meant ball joint wear.

Can anyone tell me the correct way to check for ball joint wear, tie rod wear, or any other suspension wear? thanks. also isnt up and down movement or in and out movement axial play and side to side movement is radial play?

 
Rep Power: 0

hmm... good question.
just wanna point out that in the front you have 2 ball joints on each side. one in the tie rod and the other in the lower arm.

i'm not sure just by shaking it how you could tell where the play is coming from, but if you do have play, a visual inspection could probably tell you which one (if not both) is causing it.

 
Rep Power: 327

There is a couple ways that they are checked, and then there is the way they are supposed to be checked. The way most techs chek them is ....

#1. with tires on the ground( a pit helps alot for doing this) have somone shake the steering wheel back and forth while your under the car inspecting parts for movement. This is called a dry park check.

#2. with the car jacked up grab the tire and shake side to side and then top to bottom while inspecting for wear

#3. refer to honda repair manual

typically there should be ZERO side to side play in any parts. If there is play it causes a loss of toe and the part should be replaced. Becareful cause not always is side to side play = bad tie rods. It can be lose wheel bearings, and other things