digest
Short Summary
Main recommendation: If you notice uneven tire wear, a clunky feel when first turning the wheel, or a squeak while steering, jack up the front of the car and test the tie rods for play, boot damage, and grit. The video shows that a torn boot with grit inside means the outer tie rod end needs replacing, while a click or looseness on either the inner or outer tie rod also means replacement.
Key Points
- Possible symptoms of bad tie rods include uneven tire wear, a clunky feel at the start of a turn, and squeaking, though a squeak can also come from a ball joint.
- The inner tie rod and outer tie rod are inspected separately, with the inner one checked visually and by movement, and the outer one by boot, grit, and movement.
- A recently torn boot may be replaceable on its own, which avoids replacing the whole tie rod end and does not require an alignment.
- A boot torn for a while with grit inside usually means the whole tie rod end must be replaced.
- In the example, the outer tie rod was bad and the inner tie rod was good, which the presenter notes is convenient because the outer one is quick to fix.
Details Worth Noting
Concrete instructions:
- Jack up the front of the car so both tires are off the ground.
- Place your hands at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions on the steering wheel and move them back and forth to check for play. A clicking or giving movement can indicate a bad tie rod.
- If play is suspected, remove the tire and inspect the inner tie rod boot for leaks, holes, or rips. Then inspect the outer tie rod boot for gashes or cracks.
- If the outer boot shows only a recent tear and is replaceable, remove the old boot and install a new one. If grit is inside or the tear is old, replace the whole tie rod end.
- With the boot intact, grasp the tie rod and try to move it left, right, in, and out. Unwanted movement, clicking, or easy side-to-side movement means it needs replacing.
- Turn the outer tie rod by hand to check for smooth movement; gritty, clunky feel means it is bad.
- For inner tie rod testing, move it in and out and feel for clicking. Clicking indicates a worn ball joint. It should move with some resistance, not too easily or loosely.
- If the tie rod has a grease fitting, grease it at every oil change to force out old grease carrying grit and sand, which extends its life.
- REMOVE
Additional context:
- Sand and road grime kicked up through a cracked boot is what causes the internal grittiness.
- A worn inner tie rod can also be reflected in play when the wheel is moved, so both sides should be checked.
- The presenter notes that a new tie rod end should show no tears, no gashes, and no unwanted movement, which serves as the reference for comparison.
Bottom Line
A bad tie rod is diagnosed by checking for play, boot damage, grit, and movement on both the inner and outer ends, and the outer end is usually the simpler and cheaper fix.
