Normal Play?

So I was checking my call joints and bushings in my lower control arms after a wheeling trip because a mechanic said my ball joints were “sketchy” and bushings were bad. While I didn’t see any play in the ball joint or bushings, I noticed that when putting my hands at 3 and 9 o clock, both of my wheels would turn a little bit like it had a lot of play. There was also a thudding noise and I saw that my steering wheel was turning inside the cab. I put some videos below but is this normal?


https://youtube.com/shorts/_rYsNBKqk0g?feature=share

https://youtube.com/shorts/UcmxsQwZu38?feature=share

 

Yeah, they’re f’ed

 

RIP. Sooo guessing it’s not supposed to do that?

 

It does the same thing on both sides

 

Looks like your hitting the steering wheel lock back and forth.

Have some body hold the steering wheel

 

I Will do that, appreciate ya! If there is still play like that would it be tie rods? And on both sides?

 

Top video shows tie rod is toast. The wheel is moving and the tie rod isn't. You have to check the other wheel to see if the wear is all on the one side or not. The ball joints are tested differently. Place a jack under the lower control arm close to the wheel, raise the wheel off the floor a bit and and use a pry bar to lift the tire up and down to see if there is play.

 

Put a jack under the lower control arm, raise it about 2 inches off the ground. While the other tire on the ground, rock the tire at 12/6 o'clock and 9/3 o'clock.

Should not have the clunk.