tie rods worn?

[JB Z71]

How to tell if my tierods need replacing. If I grip them firmly I can rotate them maybe 3/8 of an inch back and forth with the wheel on the ground. Is that normal???? 80k miles 2011 GMC Sierra. Truck handles pretty well, but does have a little steering vagueness on the highway if you hit some imperfections just right (or wrong).

[007matman]

They should be firm and difficult to move around by hand. The official test I think is vertical movement but I've always replaced them when they're easy to twist or rotate by hand.

 

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[JB Z71]

Thanks. Looks like that's next then. A little dissapointed though. No firm line in the sand, but usually around 100k I am looking for a new truck. Nothing wrong with trucks over 100K, had many myself, but where I am now, usually 100 and I'm looking. This is the first time (80k) I'm having to replace suspension compontents other than shocks under 100k. Also did balljoints and motor mounts on this truck already. First there also.

[Supreme Pizza]

Tie rod test:

 

Have someone turn the steering wheel back and fourth 4-5 inches at a medium pace, while you lay under the rig and watch the outer tie rod end. The outer tie rod consists of 2 pieces. Do both pieces move together perfectly, or is there play (one moves a little before the other part starts to move). Grabbing the tie rod and rotating it will only tell you how smooth the knuckle is, it will not tell you if the tie rod needs to be replaced.