Checking play in front wheels question....

Rotating tires today on a 68,000 mile 4Runner. Stock Suspension, no lift.

Notice at bit of play on both front wheels while grabbing at 3 and 9 o'clock position. Nothing at 12 and 6 o'clock position. While checking, the opposite side wheel was on the ground.

Same result with steering wheel locked or unlocked. Wanted to know if any play is acceptable or if I was feeling something in the steering rack?

No uneven tire wear, no tracking issues while driving.

Did the same to my 35,000 mile Tacoma and felt the same result.

Thanks for the help,
Matt

 

When you say “play”, are you saying you feel movement that is soft and squishy, or you feel an clicking indicative of lash between hard parts?

Clicking or clunking would indicate space between a ball and socket on a ball joint (12 and 6 oclock test), or between balls/races in ball bearings-or between ball/socket of tie rods (9 and 3oclock test). You shouldn’t have any lash in any of these circumstances, so hearing/feeling any clicking means you should be looking at something to replace.

If you’re feeling soft/squishy movement when you’re doing these tests, it’s probably normal movement due to the give of the rubber in bushings or the resistance of the tire on the other side. The steering wheel lock will still allow enough movement to feel compression of rubber, so that isn’t a factor here.

 

3 and 9 is usually a tie rod

 

Probably tie rod end based on the description. Have someone watch the outer tie rod end while you rock the wheel at 3- and 9 o'clock.