Tie Rod Ends & Related

Tie rods are an essential part of your steering mechanism - they both push and pull to direct your front wheels, and the tie rod ends are what connect the front wheels to the rest of the steering linkage. Unfortunately, normal wear means that tie rod ends may not last through the entire life cycle of your vehicle without needing to be replaced.

A car with failing, worn tie rod ends is likely to be a real handful to drive. Signs of failing tie rod ends can include an inability to hold a front-end alignment, excessive steering play, and vibration, especially at highway speeds. If you elect to replace the tie rod ends yourself (not a huge job for a DIYer), be certain to have a wheel alignment done after the job is complete, as the alignment will undoubtedly be out of spec when the new parts are installed and connected.