OK, I've been having some front end shake lately, and with the mileage at 170,000+, I figure it's time for a rebuild. I was gonna do EVERYTHING. All the steering, bushings, struts,springs,upper bearing plates, the whole 9. Today I noticed that the two front wheels are VISIBLY pointing in slightly different directions!!! It's hard to tell, but 2 people have confirmed it. One is straight, the other just barely toeing out.

...my question is this. Could this simply be an alignment issue? I really don't have around $1000 for the whole project. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do, but I'd hate to think it may simply be a ball join or a tie rod, and then simply a re-alignment.

...I'm kinda leaning toward the whole project. Better safe than sorry I guess.

 

While this could be an alignment issue, i would check the tie rods, ball joints, etc. before purchasing anything. Once whatever is worn is replaced you can do the alignment.