It feels like the front tires are gonna fall off. As I go throug potholes the fron end travels all over and feels like it has loose stering control. Like about 4 inches of play from the sterring wheel and the tire travel. It also feels like there is a rattle or somethnig is sloppy loose as I go over bumps.

 

What is the vehicle? I know that if the steering sensor goes bad it can feel like the steering is loose.

 

Going by most likely culprits in order by least expensive to most expensive:

1)Front Stabilizer(Sway Bar) Bushings and End Links

2)Shocks

3)Steering Stabilizer-it's a shock laterally mounted parallel to your steering rack between your pitman arm and idler arm

4)Tie rod ends

5)Steering -Pitman and Idler arms

6)Tires-In extreme cases, very worn tires can bring ya grief

7)Lower Ball Joints

8)Upper Ball Joints

9)The assumption here is it's a Silverado with a torsion bar suspension, if the torsion bars were giving you this much grief, it would be obvious in the vehicle posture at the outset.
Unless your tires are rubbing the fenderwells, or your truck has a massive lean to left or right, they're probably OK.

1,2,and 3 you can (and should) handle yourself. A manual is 20$, and basic hand tools will do. Tires can be used, but if you're not sure about 4 thru 9, find a decent mechanic, as alignment will be needed after work on these items.

 

oh the infamous death wobble....

well, i fixed on mine with:
idler arm replaced
driver side hub bearing replaced
steering shock installed.

it did it for good. I replaced tierods later simply because we had much slack in them.

2000 4x4 1500 ext cab lt