Limping home

Nov 18, 2009 4 Replies

Heard a weird creaking (no, not the exhaust, haha) as I backed out of my parking spot. Pulled out onto the highway and all of a sudden there's this violent oscillation, kinda like you'd get with a bent axle/wheel only felt like it was up and down as well as side to side... jelly-like feel to the steering, imagine hitting a smooth wavey lubed surface. Definitely felt like the two ends of the car weren't connected.



I discover the car is fine under 20 mph, but once over the next bump makes it go apesh*t. Flashers on, pull over and look underneath, no apparent problem. ??



Back inside, off the highway, and start a four mile limp home at 20mph during rush hour. :)



Finally get home and discover I can turn the right front wheel from side to side with my hands... without the other wheel turning! That got me in the ballpark... wouldn't think these things would just pop out like that.



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\~miker4\mtr.jpg Light rust but no real damage... weird!


So, what is the appropriate repair? Nothing looks broke, but I'd hate to have it happen again.

Well it's pretty obvious, based on the picture, that the threaded part of the tie-rod end pulled out/separated from the tie-rod. I would not just re-assemble as this problem will most certainly happen again.

If it was my car I'd change both the tie-rod end and the tie-rod and get an alignment after setting the toe by eye. It looks like corrosion got the best of your parts and maybe there is some impact damage that you didn't know about that weakened the part?

Chris

Replace both parts. My guess is the internal threads are damaged but replace both anyway.

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