Tie Rod ends? Problem

[VHSLX3300]

Hi after driving on some dirt roads today I had a nasty knock in my steering so I put it on stands took the wheels off and had a look at the front suspension componenets. It seemed to have a nasty knock in the front right tie rod end area. So I took the tie rod ends of each side and checked to see if the rack was making the knock which is wasnt. So question is do other people think it is the tie rod ends or something else? Cheers

[pandaman]

OK, with the tie rod ends back in, jack up one side at a time and try this simple test. Pull the wheel backwards and forwards on the hub. If there is any movement there then you probably have a wheel bearing problem. Rotate it side to side (in the steer direction), if there is movement in this direction then you either have a tie rod end or steering rack problem. Finally, do the same motion from top to bottom (pushing/pulling top and bottom of the wheel). If there is movement in this direction then your ball joint is gonskis.

If those movements are all tight with no knock then try checking things like swaybar bushes and castor bar bushes, both of these can create a knock when they're on the way out. Try eliminating all of those, if it's not one of them then the search gets more interesting.

[VHSLX3300]

when I first checked it. I did full lock both ways and it knocked so thats why I took the tie rod ends off the check if it was the rack. I think it is the tie rod ends just want to make sure before I go out and buy them. Cheers

[pandaman]

when I first checked it. I did full lock both ways and it knocked so thats why I took the tie rod ends off the check if it was the rack. I think it is the tie rod ends just want to make sure before I go out and buy them. Cheers

To make sure, shake the wheels by hand. In that plane of movement it could also be a rack problem. With the tie rod ends out, chuck em in a vice and see if you can feel any play in them. That oughta tell you for sure.

[VHSLX3300]

I have the tie rod end in a vice and it feels all fine except for one area which feels like its scraping and knocking so Im thinkin it is them . Cheers

[pandaman]

I have the tie rod end in a vice and it feels all fine except for one area which feels like its scraping and knocking so Im thinkin it is them . Cheers

Nice, at least you've got em out, that's the hardest part over anyway. Tapered fit = bastard. Would've made sense to just chuck new ones back in even if the old ones looked ok, given they're so cheap.

[VHSLX3300]

Cheers. Its all technique of getting them out. You tap the side a few times and they just drop out. Mate being a mechanic I learn all the tricks. Cheers

[pandaman]

The passengers side did that easy. Drivers side i sat there for half an hour tapping the knuckle till the bugger dropped. Good thing it did it then too, Arm was starting to hurt.

[fazz1977]

Tie rod ends are an easy replacement, wheel bearings are also pretty easy, ball joints... pain in the arse.

Based on when I did all these components on my old car, rough times for changing over:

Tie Rod Ends: 1/2 hour
Wheel bearings: 1.5 hours
Ball Joints: 3+ hours

If you remove or replace either the tie rod ends or ball joints you'll need a wheel alignment done afterwards too.

Hope you get it sorted... these things can cause all sorts of issues.

[VHSLX3300]

Yeh put new tie rod ends today. Will get it aligned next week. But tie rod ends fixed the prob. Cheap as well. Got em for $10 each. Only problem was trying to find the nylon washers. But good ol upullit came to the rescue

[fazz1977]

Nice one...

with an alignment you won't know your car. Just like a new one.

[VHSLX3300]

hopefully. Steering wheels in a different position to what it was so hopefully the alignment fixes that

[nathans1987]

tie rods end cost nothing and you had it off already most vn could do with new ones should have just changed it anyway.

you can align it your self you know unless your tyres are bad then you wont know if you have done it right.

[VHSLX3300]

i replaced the tie rod ends with new ones and yes I have done alignments before but it never hurts to get it done by a pro using a machine to measure them accuratly. $35 - worn tyres $35 worn tyres? hmmm let me think here