Let me start with this...I am not mechanically savvy but am capable of taking something off and putting a new part on within reason.
I have an f350 diesel w 225k on it and need to do some front end work. I had it in for an oil change yesterday at the Ford stealership and like always there's a half a dozen things wrong. I know the ball joints are something I can't tackle on my own so I know that's something I'll have to pay for. The other things like the pitman arm, shocks, and sway bar links I'll be able to do myself. I have some play in the steering box, but the place that's putting the tires on said they'll check it for me.
I'm putting new tires on her Friday so all the things I have been putting off are now coming to a head. Since I want to get the max life out of the new tires what would you say is the most important to fix first?
anything that can effect the camber and caster are things needing replacement to get the best tire wear. like ball joints/arm bushings ect..
things like the pitman arm, swaybar and shocks won't have profound impact on tire were. The pitman arm is probably where you are getting most of the "looseness" in the steering, may not be the gearbox itself.
I'm not a auto tech, but a motorcycle tech with knowledge of suspension engineering and auto side of things from repairs/mods to my own vehicles throughout the years.
Thanks.
Another question after I've been doing some more reading. Can a sway bar link even go "bad"? It seems to me the bushings would go bad but, not the bar itself
Just came inside from finishing up on the same project. I bought new tires for my toyota monday and of course they could not align the front end due to ball joints and tie rod ends worn. So after a few days of fighting with the parts store to get my order right I changed every thing along with new CV axles out tonight after work. But like said above the ball joints will effect tire wear the most but everything else will all effect your alignment to a degree witch will wear the tires. And on your sway bar its not the bar that typically goes bad but the links (that connect it to your suspention) and the bushings ,and if wore bad enough can cause some weird shimmy and shaking at times. With the price of tires today I would change every thing you can asap. Good luck!!
Did you do your ball joints yourself? I thought you need some sort of press.
