Just traded a Colt Commander for the Rancher not a bad deal to get me around in the deer woods a little easier as I grow old. I’ve been going through everything on it to check it out and over all it’s just been road around on a farm. Motor and transmission are all fine.. But after looking at the front end and pulling everything off including the knuckles. The bearings where the original ones and they where toast. Got a set of all balls and and they just slid in the old knuckles not good. So I got a new set of front knuckles with stock Honda bearings included, Got it all back together and the problem with play from 12 to 6 is fixed and tight.
Now I have play from the 9 to 3 and it’s still at the knuckle (about a 1/8" of play) most will say the tie rods are toast, but as I look at this I don’t see a bad tie rod at the knuckle or at the base of the steering tie rod.
My next step I think is I should replace the piece on the back side of the brake drum that goes inside of the middle of the smaller part of the bearing race.
I’m puzzled but not stupid.

Thanks