I've got a 1992 245 with about 133,000 miles on it. The vehicle runs great, but I've noticed that I get a shimmy up front when I'm going 45-50 miles per hour and I steer to the left or turn left. I'm not sure if it's a wheel balance issue with the front passenger tire (I just rotated tires from front to back) or if it could be a tie rod/ball joint problem. So what are the common driving symptoms of bad tie rods or ball joints? What things should I do to check the problem out?

Thanks,

13
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Please make Ricky Williams go away!

Hello Dan:

Jack up each side-- leave the tire on. Grab it at 3&9 o'clock and wiggle-- any perceptible play and you have wear in either the outer tie rod end, inner tie rod end or rack. Have an assistant wrap their hand around the outer joint while you wiggle the wheel. What you are looking for is where the motion is taking place, indicating the failed component. With your mileage, my money is on the outer tie rod ends. They are cheap and easy to replace, although you will want a two wheel alignment afterwards.

Grabbing the wheel and 12&6 and wiggling tests the balljoint. Also not terrible to replace. An alignment is also a good idea here too.

Good luck!
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Herb Goltz, Aurora, Ontario, Canada '92 245 w/124K mi, '92 945T w/200K mi

- all good tests above, and also check for loose wheel bearings - they're another point where looseness will give vague steering and shimmy. Same 12/6 o'clock test as BJ's but if there's wheel looseness but no detectable movement at BJ, suspect the WB's.
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Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F/M46, dtr's 83-244DL B23F/M46, 94-944 B230FD; hobbycar 77 MGB, and a few old motorcycles)

Wheel Alignment problems, Tires not symmetrically worn across footprint or Left side to Right side, car not tracking down the center of a road with no crown, audible noise or may feel it, grasping the wheel at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock and 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and trying to rock the road wheel to and fro, while the car is jacked up.