Must the Tie Rod Ends Be Replaced in Pairs?

[DiAniyah]

Tie rod ends must be replaced in pairs. Cannot replace the tie rod end boot separately: A cracked tie rod end boot will cause oil leakage and looseness in the ball joint, requiring replacement of both the ball joint and boot. The boot cannot be replaced separately. A cracked boot will allow the internal grease to leak out, leading to insufficient lubrication, which in turn causes excessive wear and premature failure of the tie rod end. Routine inspection: Regularly check for looseness in the ball joint by inspecting its play. Shake the wheel left and right by hand—if there is no play, the wheel should not move. If the ball joint is loose, the wheel will have noticeable lateral movement, indicating play. Any detected play warrants immediate replacement of the tie rod end.