It all started this weekend at an auto-cross event, where my front wheels shakes violently. I thought it was the wheel bearings, so I changed that couple of days ago, and the wheels still shakes.

Upon farther examination, it was the tie-rods. I could shake them by hands. How could I fix this? Would the wheel alignment fix this at a shop or can I do this my self?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by VWkila &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It all started this weekend at an auto-cross event, where my front wheels shakes violently. I thought it was the wheel bearings, so I changed that couple of days ago, and the wheels still shakes.

Upon farther examination, it was the tie-rods. I could shake them by hands. How could I fix this? Would the wheel alignment fix this at a shop or can I do this my self?

</TD></TR></TABLE>

this would mean u need a new tie-rod end, could be inner or outter

 

how bad is the shake? your tie rod is supposed to have some play in it. are the boots shot?

 

Well, the shake was rally bad at cornering and braking. My friend said he could see my wheels vibrating at the corner.

 

any play in your steering wheel?

 

if the tie rod is shaking, its just worn out. Just buy one from autozone for like $50 and install it. Fairly simple procedure, but you do need a tie rod boot when you do it.

 

im going through the same thing. my steering wheel has soo much play in it. when i launch at the track the car immediately pulls to the right.

 

Well, I measure the play of the hub with my dial caliper and it's .25"!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMlyfestyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">im going through the same thing. my steering wheel has soo much play in it. when i launch at the track the car immediately pulls to the right.</TD></TR></TABLE>

YES! Mine does the same thing! When it's pulling to the right, does it mean the right side tie-rod is bad or left? Or both?

 

i can move the steering wheel back and forth and the car responds soo slow to the steering.

when the car is on jackstands i could move the tie rod with very little effort.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMlyfestyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i can move the steering wheel back and forth and the car responds soo slow to the steering.

when the car is on jackstands i could move the tie rod with very little effort.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I think you and I have the same problem. I hear if you could push the wheels by grabing at 9 and 3 o'clock, it's the tie-rod problem.

 

Im not super smart with suspension work.
ECU's, motors, boost, all motor, lighting, 12v i kick *** in. but suspension and tranny i just dont have the same level of knowledge

 

I'm going to guess outer tie rods, or bad wheel bearing/ wheel hub. Try putting the front of the car in the air on stands, and then try shaking the wheel on each side first with hands at 3 and 9, and then 12 and 6. If you hear clicking then tie rods. If the wheel wobbles bad bearing or bad bearing and hub.

 

what about a failing Ball joint? ive never experienced one so i dont know what it i will do..lol

 

Ive never heard of either the upper or lower ball joint causing a vibration like being described.

 

it's easiest to diagnose inner or outer tie rod end is have a friend shake the wheel with his hands at 9 and 3 o'clock and shake side to side. feel the outer tie rod end and then feel the inner tie rod end.

 

I know it's not the wheel bearings, 'cause I've replace them yesterday. It's the tie-rod, 'cause I can shake them by hand.

Do I have to replace them or is there anyway I can tighten them?

 

they cannot be tightened. only replaced.

 

i highly suggest you change them. alignment shops will not do alignemtns to cars with bad tie rods due to the fact it wont stay whereever they adjust it..bad tie rods cuase unessasary torque steer and unpredicatable steering.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sadangryboi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i highly suggest you change them. alignment shops will not do alignemtns to cars with bad tie rods due to the fact it wont stay whereever they adjust it..bad tie rods cuase unessasary torque steer and unpredicatable steering.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Thanks a lot guys, I'll do this soon!

 

sooner than later... if it's shaking bad it could break loose... you DO NOT want to find out what happens to a car when the tie rod breaks...

DO BOTH AT THE SAME TIME...

An easy way to diagnose it is to jack the front of the car back...

Put your hands on either side of the tire at 9 and 3 oclock then jiggle it... you'll see what part is jiggling...

If it's a ball joint you do the same thing but put your hands at 12 and 6 and jiggle... again you'll be able to tell which one or if both are bad...

DEFINATELY do this sooner than later... if a tierod or a ball joint break it's BIG accident time... probobly do a TON of damage to your car if you're going over 5mph.

 

yup^^^^!!! the reasons i said to change it out or at least diagnose it asap is because my friends tierod let loose on him. the alignment shop told him they were goners and he kind of just put it off and forgot about it...one day he was runnin it and his car jerked left and put him into the curb...lucky only his rim was damaged

just trying to help a brotha out before anything bad and serious happens

 

id say he was lucky, i seen a car that was going 100 kmh on a highway and a tie-rod broke, wheel went to the side hard and fast and u cant turn it back and he went into the ditch and rolled it and got banged up pretty bad but made it out ok. car was more than a write off...

replace them right away