How much is "normal" if any?

Mine move probably 1/4" forward and backward but do not seem to have any movement up-down or side to side. They always spring back to the center and it takes a pry bar to move them. My truck has 170,000 miles on it and the bushings appear to be origional.

Normal is no deflection other than compression loading of the rubbers.

You already know, or at least suspect this.

Tear her down and expect to see wore out bushings as a minimum....Wallowed out pivot holes as the max.

She must be all over the road when you brake.

Are you running oversized tires/wheels and lots of off-set?

I've seen A-arms comme clean off while driving...not pretty on a two lane with oncoming traffic.

You be careful out there.

Sounds like you need to replace the lower bushings. A complete kit of polyurethane run about $50, and the cost for a new alignment, providing nothing else is worn. Here is a link Bushings

I have been looking for a write-up on bushing replcement/front end rebuild. The Haynes book leaves a lot to be desired.

The hardest part about that is the job itself is so variable. I'd had cases where the old bushings would just come out with my finger. Others where I've had to let them burn for half an hour to get them out. Installation of the urethane bushings has been as easy as a quick tap with a hammer, to as hard as having a press break doing the job.

You guys are encouraging!

When I bought the truck the wheels that were on it had a lot of offset. I have replaced them with stock SR5 wheels because I did not care for the look and rubbing the fenders while 2-tracking.

The truck can be a little unpredictable while breaking but not bad by truck standards (Compairing to '99 Rodeo, 2004 Silverado HD, and a '94 Chevy 1/2 ton).

I do not ask the question because it drives poorly but because I noticed that they could move while doing the front brakes/wheel bearing repack. I stuck my prybar (24") in and it does move a little (1/4"). It springs right back to center very quickly.

If it is bushings, I am all over it but I just wanted some more input.

Frogot to metion, I am running 31x10.5 tires. The tires have about 8,000 miles on them and are not wearing funny at all (other than the normal light truck with big tires cupping). Keeping them rotated about every 5,000 miles keeps this at bay. Had it aligned about 8,000 miles ago and the shop thought everything looked great (Not that I hang on their every word).

Is there another sure fire way to check these out. Where to jack, yank and tug?

Is there any clunking from the front when braking, comming to a stop, or when taking off. The clunking is another sign that the bushings are gone. I know when mine started to go I couldn't move them when prying on the A-arm, but they made noise when stopping and taking off.

No cluncking other than the brakes. However, this seems to be fixed now with new pads and rotors. Time will tell from here. Taking her up to the Sand Dunes this weekend.

I spent a little time under my cousin's truck. His has the same condition but 50,000 less miles. I am assuming that everything is good for now but I will be keeping a close eye on it.