hi
i have a 97 ram v6 2 wheel
ive read the other post on the subject and i have a cluncking sound on corners and bumps.what i am wondering is how much play in the tierods should there be if any? when i grab and twist it (like a bike throttle)moves back and forth both the inner and outer move at same time
any help would be great

also

the bottom bolt on my front shocks have little nubs on the bottom of the bolt lines which prevents me from getting my wrench or socket all the way on.
is there a special wrench for this type of nut

 

The part of a ball joint with the nut on it should never move. As for your shock bolts, sounds like someone already goobered them up.

 

with your shock bolts the nubs your talking about are probably where the metal tab used to be. you should only have to put the socket on the bolt not the nut. but if its missing that tab on the nut then you will have to get something on there to hold it while you spin the bolt.

the tie rods should have some twisting movement (inside the socket) and no up and down movement. if they feel loose or have any movement other than being able to rotate a little in the joint then they're shot and if they pop out you'll drop a brick while trying to get your truck to the side of the road. if you feel uncomfortable about how they feel its best to replace them. my neighbor had one pop out when he was turning into his drive way a while back and the tire that it came loose on turned inward while the other stayed straight.

 

Here's a pic of the lower shock mount tabbed nut. I doubt this is what he's talking about.

 

Imagine if you managed to break that tab off, you would be left with little nubs that would prevent you from getting the socket all the way on. I say just clamp on some vise grips and that'll keep it still so you can crank the bolt off. when you get it off you can grind the nubs off and have a regular nut.

 

I don't know about your truck, but on mine that nut is nearly inaccessible with anything but a box/open end wrench. That's why the nut is tabbed, because an untabbed nut would be difficult to get to. If he's trying to get a socket on anything it would be the bolt head, not the nut.

 

good point. by the way he described the "nubs" it sounds to me like he's talking about the nut minus the tab. if he can't figure something out then it sounds like a grinder and a big punch will be needed to get it off then a trip to the hardware store for a new nut/bolt. and i remember now the way it is crammed in there, you can get an open end wrench on it if you come up from directly underneath the nut.

 

i figured out the shocks thanks guys. the tie rod ill be taking a second look at

thanks again for the help

i havent posted alot should i delete this thread

 

No you don't have to delete, but I for one would like to know what the nubs were? And what you did to get them out which may be helpful to someone with the same prob.