Ok so I’ve never done this forum thing before. Imma get to the point. I’ve got a 2000 Ford F-150 4.6 triton manual. Motors a beast!! However, I have issues with something in the front end. I’m hearing a sound that is mimicking breaks or rotors when I took the tire off and checked breaks rotors are fine. My thing is I don’t want to start ripping her apart because I don’t have the time and need it done ASAP and I’d rather do the work myself because I’m cheap. Tie rods I was thinking bearings or hub. Can anyone tell me how to check physically the tie rods or any ideas as to what you might think it could be. I also haven’t had power steering and it’s way harder to turn left than right and the hard rub, rub, rub sound is coming from the right front. Thanks Tiffany

 

A good way to check tie rods for any wear is to have someone move the steering wheel , with the wheels on the ground, and observe the tie rod ends for any loose movement..
How hard is it to turn the steering wheel with the wheels off the ground?

 

It’s super easy to turn the wheel if I’ve got it up on jacks. In the snow also easy and dirt roads. Pavement omg let’s just say at 5ft my arms are starting to look manly. I can take the right tire when jacked up and it will move side to side and up and down. Not sure if that’s “normal” and looking underneath and comparing each said there looks like somethings missing? I’ll snap a pic and attach it.

Seems like something should go there.