Tie rod end replacement
A tie-rod end is the ball joint at the end of a steering tie rod.
Symptoms
- Knocking when turning in place or over bumps, vague steering, the car wanders in its lane.
What's included
- When it wears, there is a knock while turning when stationary and over bumps, the steering feels vague, and at speed the vehicle wanders within its lane. Wear is almost always caused by a torn boot that lets dirt inside. We check both ends even when only one knocks: they have covered the same mileage, and nobody needs another visit shortly afterwards. Replacement is performed with a puller, without striking the steering knuckle. Wheel alignment is mandatory after installation because toe is set through the tie-rod ends.
Why it matters
The cause of wear is almost always the same — a torn boot letting dirt in. Both tie-rod ends are checked even if only one knocks. An alignment is mandatory after replacement.
More details
The tie rod end is a ball joint at the end of the tie rod. When it wears out, a knock appears when turning in place and over bumps, the steering feels "numb," and at speed the car wanders within its lane. The cause of the wear is almost always the same — a torn boot letting dirt in. We check both tie rod ends even when only one is knocking: they cover the same mileage, and nobody needs a second visit a month later. Replacement is done with a puller, without hammering on the steering knuckle. After installation a wheel alignment is mandatory — it's the tie rod ends that set the toe angle.
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