my old haynes manual says its a ball joint. but its not. it connects the steering rack to the strut/hub. its brownish in the pics. there is play and i think its causing my wheel to shake and viberate 0_o anyone got a part number or name so i can replace it?

 

lower ball joint

 

so the one directly under the strut is the upper ball joint?

 

outer tie rod end.
glancing at schematics, there's only one ball joint (aka, lower ball joint, lbj, or bj. no, homos) with mcpherson struts
tie rods are what rotate/swivel/etc. on a rack. the pic with the grease leaking out of the boot is the "outer tie rod"
inner tie rods are inside of the boot on the rack.

edit#34,395.
but technically, it is a ball-type joint.

 

is that what it is? mine looks different...if its off the rack then yeah tie rod end

id suggest running up to napa and have them pull up the diagram

 

Thanks! outter tie rod end. i shall get one tomorrow.