Please help: Wheel movement

I have been getting some weird movement from my passenger side tire. I put it up on jack stands and found that the wheel wobbled left to right, but didnt seem to move up and down or in and out.. What suspension piece would cause this? According to the shop manual ball joints would cause a up and down wobble and not a sid to side wobble..

any help??

side to side is either a tierod end or in your rack and pinion

Oh a tie rod or rack and pinion huh? How can i diagnose for sure? I guess i'll have to research tie rod and rack and pinion...

If you are just rotating the wheel with the car up in the air, the suspension pieces are pretty much isolated from the action. If the wheel wobbles, it's probably bent. If you are manually rocking the wheel to feel any movement, then that's different. L/R movement would be controlled by the tie rods and bushings in the control arms.

The wheel definitely moved L/R and i usually get a nice lil thud when going over bumps. If its the tie rods how do i change those? How do i inspect them to see if they are bad?

Put it up on jackstands with both fronts up. Have someone go under the car and on turn the wheel if you have movement in your steering before the tire moves you rod ends are junk. To change there is a jam nut on there. Count the threads showing and remove. Replace with the same amount of threads showing as before you took the old on off. Strongly recommend to get an alignment done anytime you replace a tierod end.

Thanks!

It's easier to take the wheel off on the one side. The open area exposes the tie rod, and you can get at the nut, the rod end, and the tie rod very easily. Take the jam nut off, hammer it out, and unscrew it. I believe the nut on the tie rod was 1/2" or 22mm, I can't remember. It's around there.

rear bushing in the front lower control arm is toast. I'll lay money and it's a more common problem than anyone thinks. Look at it with the car in the air, I'll lay money it's all torn and falling apart.

Sam..

Who much money we talking :-p

Just kidding bro. I will look at it. I have to go out and buy a jack (yea i know.. what car guy doesnt have a jack!)

If the rear bushing is bad is it difficult to replace? do they have to be pressed out like crappy ford bushings?