In order to turn your car, your steering wheel has to be connected in some way to your wheels. That includes the steering linkage, which is connected to your tires by tie rods. If the tie rods go bad, then you lose your steering, which could happen if you are making a sharp turn or you are driving on a very bumpy road. So, what are the signs that your tie rods are going bad and need to be replaced?
Tie Rods
The tie rods in your car are similar to a ball joint, such as what you have in your hip. That allows the tie rods to not only rotate with the steering wheel, but it also gives it the ability to go up and down as well, with the action of the road. There are generally two tie rods per wheel, one that is nearer to the center of your car, with the other nearer to the wheel. The way that the tie rods fasten together also help with the alignment of the tires, which also helps with the steering of your car. If the alignment is off, your tires won't face forward, and your car will pull one way or the other.
Signs of Bad Tie Rods
There are a few things that you need to look for if you think that your tie rods are going bad. One is that the car is pulling very hard to one side or the other. You may not be sure if a car is pulling, at least at first. However, there are things that you can notice before your car starts pulling strongly to the side. One thing you may notice is that your hands and arms are more tired after driving because you have been fighting with the steering wheel more than you are used to. There may also be more vibrations in the steering wheel, which would make your hands tired too.
Another sign that your tie rods are going bad is that your tires are wearing unevenly. Uneven wearing can mean wearing more on one side of the car than the other. It can also mean that the tire itself is unevenly wearing. One side will be balder than the other.
If you have noticed that your car isn't steering as well as it used to, the problem may be the tie rods. Knowing what some signs are of your tie rods going bad can help you head the problem off before it gets too bad. Contact an auto body repair shop for more information or assistance.
Share27 July 2016
When I started focusing more on car maintenance, it was astounding to see just how many things needed to be repaired on my car. I felt as if I was whittling away thousands of dollars worth of repairs, and it was really frustrating. However, I just focused on one thing at a time, and before I knew it, my car problems started to melt away. Within a few months, my car was functioning perfectly, and I wasn't worried about it starting each and every day. This blog is all about choosing better auto service and knowing which problems to address first.