I've finally had time to attend to this. I dont notice any loose ball joints. I just replaced the bushings on the sway bar & the "radius rod" (which the auto parts shops are calling the "strut rod bushing") I'm still having the same problem. So i started shaking the tie rods harder because i thought they were ok, but it seems the driver side tie rod has some play in it. It takes a lot of pressure to feel the play, but im sure its there.
if there is a tiny amount of play in the tie rod end, do I need to replace that?