ritchie1791

I lifted my 98 Trans Am yesterday and moved the wheels and notice the inner and outer tie rod move very easily. My car has been shaking and at the steering wheel and just a little from the seat but mostly the steering wheel. Could it be my tie rods that cause me to feel the road through the steering wheel or just something else. I know my bushings are fine because they look very new and no cracks or tears in them. Ball joints are fine too.

1ltcap

when you shake the wheels, look at the ball ends of the tie rods. if you see lateral movement in the ball itself, then yes that can cause a shaking in yuor wheel. they more commonly cause this shaking only under braking though.

ritchie1791

the ball ends are the ones I can see the play the most. It looks like they are very loose and wobbly. I can even move them with my hand.

1ltcap

that's bad. definitely replace them. you're gonna have to get an alignment afterwards, but you can keep everything close by counting the turns as you unthread the old one, then put the new ones on the same number of turns.

ritchie1791

thanks at least now I know the tie rods are the thing thats bad.