i have an 01 dodge Dakota crew cab 2wd with the 4.7lt. i recently replaced all 4 tie rods and noticed that my wheel had play when i wiggled it back and forth. it is not the ball joints so i think its the wheel bearing. mine is the hub assembly i don't currently here any noise are feel something different when driving. i tried to put pressure on them by going into a turn at good speed and by using the breaks and cant here anything. what do you think?

 

It would be best to put it up on ramps (so it's loaded), and have a friend wriggle it while you watch.

It could be the rack also - play in it.

It could also be a U-joint or rag joint (U-joints on our trucks I think but you'd have to eyeball to make sure for yours.)

What you want to do is see where it wriggles at.

RwP

 

Jack the front end and check for play in the wheel bearings.

How much play are you noticing?

 

About 1/8 of a turn I think is roughly normal for a worn steering system. I get about 1/4 turn of slop in mine but we won't discuss why or how….

 

Wheel bearings, good luck getting some that aren't junk.

My New Timken Set 49s were loose out of the box, trying something else today.

 

I had to replace a hub I purchases from oreilly. I have the lifetime warranty. When I told the employee that it was loose he told me that it should have some play. Seriously?! Idiot. And he said he used to own a shop.

Other than that they (both hubs from oreilly's) I haven't had any issues with them.

 

Most new Hub's that go bad are a direct result of over torqueing them you must follow the specified torque too much and they self destruct ASAP.

You must use a torque wrench at assembly time

 

I think we know why he's working at O'Really now. He obviously wasn't very successful in the auto repair business.