A bad tie rod is one of those problems that can be cheap and easy to fix, if you catch it early, or expensive and even dangerous if you put it off. The good news is that it’s not hard to diagnose a bad tie rod. ChrisFix shows us the way.
So, how to tell if your tie rod is bad?
It really comes down to wiggling your car around.
- Jack your vehicle up
- Wobble your wheel
- Take a look at the rod
- Wiggle the tie rod
This is one of the easiest diagnostic tests you can run on your vehicle. It really does come down to wiggling things around and seeing what moves. Of course, you need to know what you’re looking for.
So let’s go more in-depth on ChrisFix’s “wiggle test.”
How to Tell if Your Tie Rod is Bad
#1. Jack Your Vehicle up
You want to jack up both of your front wheels. Get the tires about an inch or so off the ground. You need to have enough space that you can rock your tires back and forth without rubbing the ground.
#2. Wobble Your Wheel
Put your hands at the 3 and 9 positions, and wobble your wheel left and right like you’re turning the handlebars on a bicycle. If your wheel is rock solid, you’re fine. Put the jacks down, and you’re set.
If you have any movement, if you hear any clicking or feel that the wheel has some give as you rock it, you’ll want to take the wheel off and take a closer look.
#3. Take a Look at the Rod
You might be able to spot the problem at a glance. You have an outer tie rod and an inner tie rod. On the inner tie rod, you’re looking for leaks, cracks or rips. On the outer tie rod, you have a rubber boot that’s prone to tear.
If the tear on your boot is fresh, you can just get a new boot for around 50 bucks. If it’s been torn for a while, you’re going to have a lot of grit in there, causing long-term damage, and you may have to replace the entire rod.
#4. Wiggle the Tie Rod
If there are no cracks or leaks, grab the tie rod and give it a good wiggle: in and out, left and right. If there’s a lot of wobbling or if it’s clicking, indicating a worn ball joint, you’re gonna need to replace it.
Finally, you can take the tie rod off and give it a thorough visual inspection, but by this point, you should know if it’s in good shape or not.
So, how do you replace it? Don’t worry; Chris has a fix for that, too. That’s probably why they call him ChrisFix.
Built to Last
Tie rods are going to wear out sooner or later. Hopefully, your engine block and your transmission won’t. If you’re looking for a car that’s built to last, you have to do your research. Read the Vehicle History and buy smart.
