What are the symptoms of a faulty steering tie rod?
2 Answers
The symptoms of a faulty steering tie rod are: 1. Abnormal knocking noise on bumpy roads; 2. Unstable vehicle swaying left and right; 3. Braking deviation; 4. Steering failure. The steering gear is the most important component for the steering function of a car and a crucial guarantee for driving safety. The method to replace the steering tie rod is: 1. Remove the dust cover of the car's steering tie rod; 2. Remove the connecting screw between the tie rod and the steering knuckle; 3. Disconnect the ball joint between the tie rod and the steering gear; 4. Remove the old tie rod and install a new car steering tie rod; 5. Tighten the dust cover; 6. Perform a four-wheel alignment for the car.
When the tie rod in my car had issues last time, the most noticeable feeling was that the steering wheel became heavier, requiring more effort to turn. When driving straight, the car kept pulling to one side, and if I let go of the steering wheel, it would veer into the next lane in less than 10 seconds. The scariest part was when going over speed bumps or potholes—the chassis would make a 'clunking' metal impact noise, and the steering wheel would shake. One day, I noticed the inner side of the tire was worn into a jagged pattern, which made me realize the severity of the problem. The mechanic said the tie rod end was loose, causing misalignment of the front wheels. He warned that continuing to drive could not only ruin the tires but also risk sudden axle failure. I ended up spending 900 to replace the entire tie rod assembly that same day.
