I've got a 97 dodge ram 1500 and my front driver's side wheel is slanted quite a bit, the bottom is bowed outward and the top is inward. What could be making it bow like that?

 

2 wheel drive (2WD) or 4 wheel drive (4WD)? If 4WD, a bad ball joint and/or hub bearing. If 2WD, likely a bad ball joint. Try jacking up that side of the truck and wobble the wheel in and out by hand to see what moves.

 

Yes it's 4WD, does a bad ball joint make a popping noise? Every now and then I'll hear some steady pops, but Im not sure what that would be

 

Could be U-joint that's popping. Have you lifted the tyre in question up off the ground, or looked under there?

 

The most common culprits for the issue you're experiencing is a bad hub/wheel bearing and/or ball joints. Also, check the U-joint just behind the wheel on the axle. Let us know what you find after jacking up that side of the truck and moving the wheel back and forth with your hands.

 

I forgot to say, there's a lot of play in the tire when I jack it up and shake it.. when it's jacked up the tire will straighten out but as soon I let it back down it bows again

 

It could be a ball joint but more likely you have a wheel bearing that is toast. Put the truck on a jack stand and remove the wheel. I'll bet the caliper will be loose from the bearing allowing th wheel to bow inward at the top.

 

Hub for sure, just changed mine yesterday. The popping is the u joint because the bowed wheel is making it have too much of an angle so it binds. I'd recommend Detroit Axel. Mine is lifted, with beefy tires, and Detroit makes a great product.