Tie rods?

[devinlamothe]

So I am having some trouble with my steering. I just had an alignment done at Toyota and I'm still getting some wonkiness.

You would think Toyota would have checked my tie rods when doing the alignment but it doesn't surprise me they didn't ...

Anyways, what's happening is it seems my tires will get "stuck" and kind of veer off to the right randomly, and there is play when turning right. Turning left is still tight like it should be.

I'm just wondering if this could be outer or inner tie rods. I am going to do the 9-3 test on the wheel tonight to see if there is any movement in the rod end but just wanted to get someone with more mechanical experience's opinion.

[cali yaris]

Toyota should have checked for wear in the end links. I've seen some pretty thrased ones. How many miles?

We have upgrade replacement end links that are adjustable, FYI

http://shop.microimageonline.com/images/swaybarlinks2.jpg

[devinlamothe]

Toyota should have checked for wear in the end links. I've seen some pretty thrased ones. How many miles?

We have upgrade replacement end links that are adjustable, FYI



Nice ... what's the advantage with adjustable ones? Sorry, I'm not inept I just don't know much lol

And yeah Toyota *should* have checked - I have ~232,000km or ~144,000 miles.

Our roads here are GARBAGE, pot holes galore.

[cali yaris]

They are used to tune the suspension, you can add pre-load to your front sway bar, for example. The Heim joints alone are an upgrade from the stock joints, so if yours are indeed shot (likely at that mileage with rubber parts under the car), now is a good time. :smile:

[devinlamothe]

They are used to tune the suspension, you can add pre-load to your front sway bar, for example. The Heim joints alone are an upgrade from the stock joints, so if yours are indeed shot (likely at that mileage with rubber parts under the car), now is a good time. :smile:

Thanks for that info - how well do you think they would hold up to winter with a lot of salt on the roads? Better than stock?

[cali yaris]

Way better than stock.

[devinlamothe]

Way better than stock.

By the way I am talking about tie rod ends ... are you sure yours are the same? lol

http://img.eautopartscatalog.com/live/W01331784557SNK.JPG

I am just wondering one more thing. I jacked the car up and tried to look for wheel play ... passenger side there was none, everything was super solid. Drivers side would move a bit at 3 and 9 o'clock and I could see the boot for the ball joint moving a bit.

What I don't understand is when I'm driving it seems like the issue is with the passenger side. Do tie rod ends affect the opposite side of the car?

Any way I am bringing it to a garage to have someone check on it. It doesn't surprise me with our roads this has happened haha :cry:

[marlondog]

How much do those go for???