Tie rod - inner or outer bad?

[2001FZ1]

When I have the front wheel off the ground.....

I grab the tire on the sides and try to turn it side to side, I hear and feel and thump. How do I know if its the out or inner tie rod?
Thanks!

 

[The_Roadie]

Look at the joints. If it the outer, the stud that goes to the steering knuckle will move. If it's the inner, the ball joint at the inner will show looseness.

I have a Youtube video showing a bad inner.

[video=youtube;D9cFh68Bwho]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9cFh68Bwho[/video]

Here's the process for an outer - not our platform, though.

[video=youtube;ouef7W0riz8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouef7W0riz8[/video]

 

[2001FZ1]

The truck has right at 100k miles. Probably worth it just to do inner/outer on both sides? I would hate to replace one and then get an alignment just to have another go bad next year.

 

[The_Roadie]

Only you know how much annoyance and expense an alignment is compared to replacing the parts. I break outer tie rod ends every year by offroading aggressively, so I carry spares and can change them in 15 minutes on the trail, so my recommendation would probably not match what's best for you.