Hey guys, I'm helping my lady friend get her car running and looking good but when I jacked her car into the air to check out the wheels by shaking left to right the wheel has a small bit of play. Both wheels have this play, but passenger has the most. When she drives the car you can feel the wheel movement actually and it's not safe so I want to have this fixed for her asap.

Now my buddie had the same thing and he replaced his tie rods and then got an alignment and everything was fine so would this fix her issue aswell?

Also isn't there an inner and outer tie rod? How would I know which one(s) to replace?


Thank You

 

sounds like the tie rods need replacing. I would replace both inner and outer that way you know they are both good and wont have to deal with them again.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 93civicsedan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sounds like the tie rods need replacing. I would replace both inner and outer that way you know they are both good and wont have to deal with them again.</TD></TR></TABLE>


but is there a specific way of knowing which ones are bad? she's a bit tight on money and I want to help her get rid of the wheel issue

thanks

 

Jack the car up and have someone hold the steering wheel in a fixed position.

Now take each wheel by itself and gently shake it back and forth while watching the outer tie rod, then the inner, and see where the play/movement stops.

Are you sure her axle nuts are tight and have been staked down? that can also cause the exact same motion as a bad tie rod.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C5-EH2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Jack the car up and have someone hold the steering wheel in a fixed position.

Now take each wheel by itself and gently shake it back and forth while watching the outer tie rod, then the inner, and see where the play/movement stops.

Are you sure her axle nuts are tight and have been staked down? that can also cause the exact same motion as a bad tie rod.</TD></TR></TABLE>


Thanks Tom, I have checked the axle nuts and they are on there good and have been notched to prevent comming off.
Anybody know what size wrench's I will need also? I remember my friend having like a 32mm or something that big for the rod - to steering rack