Tie Rod End Inspection and Replacement:
Tie rods and tie rod ends connect your steering rack to your front wheels. These steering components play a critical role in helping turn the front tires as the steering wheel is turned. There are two components here, the inner and the outer, and they connect to the steering knuckle to turn the front wheels. The outer end is adjustable and used to set a vehicle’s alignment angle. This type of component is jarred and impacted throughout their lives as we drive over rough roads and potholes. Eventually the these parts wear out and will need replacement. Life expectancy varies and is directly dependent on the types of roads you drive on daily.
Tie Rod Ends Should Never Be Allowed to Fail Completely:
We recommend having the steering components checked annually or during your alignment check. If your tires are wearing down or you are having erratic steering (vehicle wandering in its lane), chances are that these components are worn out and need replacement. A bad tie rod or end will cause the tires to become misaligned, which will lead to tire replacement. If ignored long enough substantial damage to your steering and suspension systems result and this could lead to a crash.
From a safety standpoint there is a large risk, because erratic driving can cause an accident. From an environmental point of view, there is low impact as these parts wear out.
