Why do the tie rod ends wear and how can you replace them?
The steering link connects the steering mechanism to the wheels, and is responsible for transmitting the force required to turn the wheel. The steering linkage is mounted statically on the body, while the wheels are in a resilient, suspended position.
Tip arrangement
The tie rods are attached to the rack rod by means of inner lugs, to the middle link — attached by pivots. To the steering knuckle arms, the tie rod is connected by an outer lug. The tie rods can move vertically without any problems, if not for this — the tie rod would not be able to function when driving on uneven sections of road.
The tips are similar in design to human joints: the finger sphere spins in a hemispherical housing with a sleeve and a special lubricant that prevents metal friction, allowing the finger to deflect at a specific angle. Hinges prevent wear and deformation of rubber dust covers. Due to this design, the moving and monolithic parts of the actuator are tightly connected.
The tips are wear-resistant and long-lasting because the pins are made of steel. The liner is made of wear-resistant metals and the housing is anodised for reliable corrosion protection.
Why does a pull rod fail despite the reliability of the elements?"
Steering rods are among the most vulnerable parts of a car. Failure of the tie rod occurs in most cases due to the fault of the driver: hitting stones and kerbs at speed, which provokes the appearance of deformation. Also another common cause of failure can be damage to the protective cover. As a consequence — getting moisture or road dirt inside the connection, which leads to its rapid breakdown. These are the main reasons why drivers turn to a specialised workshop.
If the tie rod is bent, this failure can cause another fault. There are camber faults, tearing of the dust covers and breaking of the lug. If the vehicle hits an obstacle at high speed, it is necessary to visit a workshop where specialists will check the correct geometry of the tie rod.
Tip Failures
If there is a failure in the steering, the defect will be manifested by backlash, knocking, thumping in the steering wheel.
Tip failures are manifested by:
- while driving the car «bounces» in the pedal, when pressing on the gas;
- noise in the area of the wheels, when turning the steering wheel on uneven roads;
- the steering wheel rotates without noticeable effort;
- problems with camber adjustment;
When the lugs are worn, when you wiggle the tie rods, the clearance will be greater than the allowable 1.5mm.
Important information! Restoration is possible, but not recommended, as restoration will not produce the expected result. The service will replace the bushing and the sphere will be the old one. The bushing still has to be pressed in, and the tip will eventually — make a knocking noise.
How do I properly replace the tie rod and lugs?
When the lugs have failed, replacement is required. What to do:
- lift the vehicle with a jack and dismantle the front wheels, blocking the steering wheel;
- loosen the lug nuts, which screw the lug to the rod;
- dismantle the cotter pin;
- remove the retaining nut between the handpiece and the steering knuckle;
- using a ball bearing puller, press out the lug;
- before disassembly, leave a mark indicating the level of twisting;
- After removing the dust covers, you need to unscrew the rods.
It is important! After all the work performed to adjust the camber. If you neglect this rule, the tyres on the wheels will wear unevenly, the vehicle will be difficult to drive. Any intervention in the steering system requires a camber adjustment.
Replacement will not be an issue if:
- use specialised tools;
- quality new lugs and linkages are available.
In a car service these works are carried out quickly and inexpensively, so if you have no experience in car repair or do not have special tools at hand, contact a workshop specialising in steering repair.
