Hi all , I have a Taurus 2001 with over 100K I recently began feeling a vibration or loosenes in the front end - especially when transmission downshifts climing hills etc. The tires are balanced and allighment is good. What are the symptoms of bad CV joint/axels? I can feel the vibration thru the pedal as well as the streeing wheel and it seems to get progressivly worst over the past weeks. Any ideas. Ifit is the shafts any idea which one or both ???? Thanks !

 

I think you have a bad tie rod. If it was a CV joint you would have had other more significant symptoms like clunking and grinding when making turns. Lift up the front of the vehicle and try to support it by the lower control arms if you can. Then shake the front tires from 3 and 9 oclock positions. This checks the tire rod ends. You can also push and pull on the tire at the 6 oclock position to check the lower ball joint.

 

I had the same problem with mine....had the tie rods and ball joints replaced. It drives very well now.