snatch

To start off with I have a slight click/clunk when I am going pretty slow <5 mph and then brake (parking into spots, pulling into the garage). I've replaced both upper and lower balljoints, so I'm lead to believe that the tie rod ends might be the culprit.

I've checked the tie rod ends via the grab the wheel at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock and shake with the car in the air. The wheel usually locks, and there is play, but as the wheel moves so does the steering wheel. So it's not like there is really any slop in the steering. If I grab the outer tie rod end and pull it back and forth (left to right side of car) it doesn't have any slop either. But if I try and pitch it (rotating it front to back) it will move. Is this normal? (Hopefully that description made sense)

Lastly, how do I tell if it's the outer or the inner tie rod that is bad? I can replace the outer no issue I hope, but I'd rather not screw with the inner as it sounds like you have to remove the entire rack to make it easier. Do inner tie rods go bad often, or do outer ones go bad more often?

Can you test the tie rods by sitting in the car with it off and turning the wheel back and forth real quick and seeing if it knocks? Is this testing for inner or outer?

Car is a 99 hatch with just under 90,000 miles lowered on Eibach springs (as that might cause premature wear)

Hopefully I can get this bitch taken care of...thanks.

snatch

Any ideas?

snatch

Late evening brainstorming session anyone?

Stoich EG2

grab your front tires at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock and move it back and forth(with the tires off the ground of course). if there is play, it could be bad wheel bearings.

snatch

No play whatsoever when grabbing it at 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock. Thanks though, I'm glad I don't need to replace the wheel bearings yet.

JDM_SOHC

[QUOTE=******]
Lastly, how do I tell if it's the outer or the inner tie rod that is bad? I can replace the outer no issue I hope, but I'd rather not screw with the inner as it sounds like you have to remove the entire rack to make it easier. Do inner tie rods go bad often, or do outer ones go bad more often?
QUOTE]

I just replaced my inner tie rod on passenger side the other day, not hard at all.. I got it from Pep Boys for 51 bucks and it altogether took me 15 minutes from start to finish... I removed my cold air intake an had perfect contact to the inner tie rod boot.. Pulled that all the way back, threw a set of channel locks on there, BLAM, popped it lose an it unscrewed right off.. Counted that the outer tie rod was threaded all the way til there was only 9 threads left showing after the lock nut between the 2 rods, put new inner tie rod onto opposing end of outer, screwed it back it, filled boot w/ grease "because my boot is partially ripped thats my next project".. Threw it all back together, drove car an ran fine.. Still shakes a lil bit at braking but im pretty sure thats because my rotors may have warped or brake pads actin like scumbags haha.. But thats also another 10-15 minute job so not biggie... Good Luck...

snatch

That's great, but how do I tell which tie rod is bad (if any)?

JDM_SOHC

Well here ya go... I just did my inner tie rod like i mentioned earlier an this is what a bad one looks like...




and u cant really see in the bushing but this is how stable a new one should be..


almost close to no play in it at all unlike mine that i could spin around like a wind up toy haha...

hope pics help

rukawa1one

overall was it difficult to change the inner tie rod?

snatch

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by rukawa1one &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">overall was it difficult to change the inner tie rod?</TD></TR></TABLE>

He said it only took him roughly 15 minutes to do one. 95% of what I've read says it's easier to remove the entire steering rack instead of trying to wiggle around in there...hence not making it sound easy.

As I said before, I can pitch, or rotate the outer tie rod end front to back very easily. With everything I've done dealing with balljoints thus far, if it's not tight and hard to move, then it's usually bad. Since I can rotate the balljoint pretty easy on the outer tie rods then I would suspect they're bad.

I'd still like to know how often or how common it is for inner tie rods to go out? I would hate to replace the outer ones, get an alignment, and then have to replace the inner ones and get another alignment. Is it one of those things where if you replace the outer ones, then since the inner ones are older they will become the weak link in the system and fail sooner?

JDM_SOHC

Are your boots for ur inner tie rod ripped or torn at all..??? cuz if they are chances are dirt got into ur inners an fawked it all up... if it moves up an down an not side to side may be wheel bearing...

snatch

Refer to earlier post, not a wheel bearing.

The boots are not ripped or torn anywhere, so I don't think dirt got in there and ruined them. Guess I'll start with the outer ones and hopefully it'll fix it.

If anyone else has something to contribute please do so.

MeanGreenMachine

how tough is it to remove the inner tie rod with the steering rack still in the vehicle?