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Get it up in the air (on ramps or jackstands) and grab your pry bar-
wiggle the tie rod ends, ball joints, and big lower control arm rear bushings.
Any play indicates replacement. TO check the tie rod ends, have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth quickly while you put your hand on the joint. You'll be able to detect any side-to-side movement. If everything seems tight, you just need a front end alignment.
Note that you could also get some wander from rear suspension bushings being bad- they hold the axle to the trailing arms (they're called Trailing Arm Bushings) and the car may sag a bit in the back. Check these too- you'll be able to see movement of the axle relative to the control arm just as you lift the wheels off the pavement, if you're using a jack under the frame (as opposed to the axle). These are cheap parts but a fair amount of labor to install.
There's no question the car needs an alignment, but there's no point in paying for one if you've got worn parts.
Write back with what you find.
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Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: "Roterande Fläkt Och Drivremmar!"
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