Having a couple of issues (post-idle smoke, LF strut "loose"?)

[h2oskiphil]

So my 04 4.4 (110K miles) is having the dreaded post-long-idle smoke cloud walk of shame. Really only started after an oil change, when they took me down to 5W30 instead of the 10W30 I had been running. I've read a million threads about valve seals, and I've also read that the 04 4.4 is prone to vacuum leaks that can mimic the seal issue. Started mine, pulled the dipstick, and there was zero difference in the way it ran. Am I looking at the "replace every o-ring, seal, and gasket from the valve covers up" fix?

Also, I thought I might have a tie rod end bushing going bad on the driver's side-there was some thumping and rattling going on when going over bumps, and an occasional wiggle in the wheel when applying the brakes. Got it up in the air today, and I've got probably a half an inch of play front to back in the front tire, and the entire strut assembly is moving-it's not a steering component issue. Strut is tight up top, so I'm thinking strut mount, possibly? Is there something that should be holding that strut in place on the bottom that I'm overlooking? Thrust arm/ball joint, perhaps?

[electricalserv x5]

hi , I had the shaking while braking to and found that my steering reservoir was leaking and low on fluid removed and replace replace the clamps too and check the connection on the pump.
As far as the valve stem seals.that's costly, I have 84k miles on mine and change the oil every 4k miles with Castrol 5w 30 titanium oil and so far so good.

[admranger]

I believe you'll find the tension strut bushing is shot. It's the big bushing on the engine end of the long, curved steel arm that goes forward from the front wheel.

[h2oskiphil]

Originally Posted by admranger

I believe you'll find the tension strut bushing is shot. It's the big bushing on the engine end of the long, curved steel arm that goes forward from the front wheel.

I just got out from underneath it...there's SOME play in the control arm bushing, but there's a LOT of play on the other end of the control arm, which would lead me to believe that it's probably the ball joint.

How much play in that frame-mounted control arm bushing is OK? Not sure at this point whether to order just the ball joint, or to replace the control arm/bushing assembly completely while I've got it off to do the ball joint. I don't have a press to get the old bushing out, so I'd probably just order a whole new arm and a ball joint and replace everything at once.