My 2000 XLT's steering wheel shakes when i turn the wheel moving. I lifted the front to check it out and the tires have in and out play on each side of the tire when i move the it, also I can see the steering rod also moving, wtf is wrong?

 

Un balanced tires, bad wheel bearings, tie-rods, ball joints, etc. etc. ?? Blades

 

could it be my rack and pinion? i hope not

 

if so is that hard to replace

 

Definatly one of those, solve by replacing parts, deals.

First off, the cheapest is to get your wheels balanced. That will clear them from the problem or solve it.

If that doesn't do it, start to cry and get a credit card.....LOL
O.k, well don't panic yet. There's more tests.

Check your balljoins for play. Grab the top and bottom of the wheel and move it up and down. Grab the sides of the wheel and move it left to right (in and out motion). If there is play, the ball joints are going or are shot.

If you can pull and push the tire on the spindle, the bearings may be shot. The tie rod ends may also have play in them.

If you know what to look for and how to go about it, you can replace these parts yourself for cheap. But if you're like the majority of us and do not have access to shop tools or just have a limited knowledge of mechanics, the shop or a trusted mechanic is a good start.

 

I got a 00 xlt 2wd mine had a shake in the steering wheel... I got the tired balanced and it was still shaking. So i changed the lower ball joint.. no fix.. Changed the bearings no fix.. Changed the inner and outter tie rod ends no fix. So i decided hell the only other thing could be the tires. Replaced the tires and the shake went away... Although they were in balance the mechanic at the firestone place said one of my old tires most likely had a broken belt in it which cause the shake only at one certain speed.. Iv got a new front end and a new set of tires outta it.....

 

I would check ball joints. Mine shakes a bit at all speeds and its definetly the ball joints.

I just have to change them now though...

 

Another ball joint question- Is your truck hard to keep straight on the highway? bad balljoints will cause your truck to want to wander, like when mine were bad I kept having to adjust the steering wheel. Also check and see if the ball joint boots are cracked at all, that's a definate sign.

 

Mine isn't hard to keep straight on the hwy. It wouldn't align properly, and I have to keep my finger on the steering wheel so it doesn't go left.

My left lower boot is ripped in 1/2 and the right one is cracked/torn...they are both shot.

For the cost of what it is to replace all that I need, I should just throw a solid axle under there

 

Does the wheel shake while you brake? I would assume while you are hitting the brakes if you are turning a corner?

 

Could be a broken belt in one of the tires. If its realy horrible, but most of the time a vibration or wobble at speed can be cured by having the tires balanced.
Grab a wheel (jack the front up first) by the top and bottom and try to push/pull on it. If you feel any movement in the wheel when you wiggle it you've got a bad wheel bearing. If it doesn't move any that way then the bearings are ok. (note: you wont have to push/pull very hard to feel it move if the bearing is bad) Now grab it on the front and back (in relation to the truck) and do it again. If it moves this time you've got a bad tie rod end, or some play in the steering rack. Watch the components of the steering system as you do this to determine where the play is coming from (you will see it move). If that checks out ok grab a pry bar and crawl under the truck. Jam the end of the bar between the control arm and an edge of the balljoint anyway you can then move it up and down. If the control arm moves at ALL, the balljoint is, or is going, bad. Do the same with the uppers (if you have them). Now repeat all this process on the other side of the truck. Then get out your wallet and go to the parts store.