new tie rods or no?

[grimreaper]

i had to separate the inner and outer tie rods to replace the bellow. When they are connected there is no play up & down or side to side. No signs of a bad tie rod what so ever.

however after i separated them the inner flops around like a noodle. No resistance to movement from the joint and moves freely. Hold a screw driver in your hand and drop it, thats how easily and fast the inner rod drops at the joint.
NO LOOSE PLAY when all hooked back up.... 185lbs of weight (me) and no movement...


replace them or is this just worn but acceptable ?

 

[iamtherhino]

Considering how little they cost, replace and be safe.

 

[grimreaper]

$300 + is not cheap right now .

 

[toy fanatic78]

From the sound of it they are due for replacement.

 

[dumbo]

From the sound of it they are due for replacement.

Agreed. You dont want any slop.

 

[supradjza80]

Here, save a few hundred dollars. I would recommend Moog - great parts and a lifetime warranty. I believe you want the inner tie-rods from your description.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalogtest/x,carcode,1278570,parttype,7428,partGroup,26

 

[bluepearl]

Grim, bear with me. On fords there was an actual measurement for what you are talking about. It is called articulation effort and is measured with a pull scale. Now with Toyota, there is no mention of this in the service manual that I can find. The only thing mentioned was, when checking, no excessive play. Hope that helps.

 

[toy fanatic78]

Grim, bear with me. On fords there was an actual measurement for what you are talking about. It is called articulation effort and is measured with a pull scale. Now with Toyota, there is no mention of this in the service manual that I can find. The only thing mentioned was, when checking, no excessive play. Hope that helps.

Aren't they supposed to have a certain amount of drag when turning them with a inch-lbs torque wrench?I may be thinking about the upper ball joints.

 

[bluepearl]

Toy, the only time I have ever seen a torque wrench used was for the preload adjustment. I have never seen any type of ball joint tested that way.

 

[toy fanatic78]

Checked my TSRM,I was wrong,the check is for all of the ball joints.Example is for upper front:"Using a torque gauge,turn the nut continuously one turn per 2-4 seconds and take the torque reading on the fifth turn."
10-35 kg-cm
(8.7-30.0 in-lb,1.0-3.4 Nm)
Not really much in the manual about the tie-rods,just says check for excessive play.There is a similar check for the rear strut bar joints,those would probably be right along the same specs as the tie rod ends.

 

[iamtherhino]

$300 + is not cheap right now .

Good god, where are they $300!

 

[bluepearl]

Good info on the ball joints Toy. thanks.

 

[grimreaper]

Here, save a few hundred dollars. I would recommend Moog - great parts and a lifetime warranty. I believe you want the inner tie-rods from your description.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalogtest/x,carcode,1278570,parttype,7428,partGroup,26

nice find, ill be grabbing 4 new ones. :bigthumb:

Grim, bear with me. On fords there was an actual measurement for what you are talking about. It is called articulation effort and is measured with a pull scale. Now with Toyota, there is no mention of this in the service manual that I can find. The only thing mentioned was, when checking, no excessive play. Hope that helps.

how do you setup the gauge on the tie rod? if the gauge isnt to expensive i can pick one up and measure the new and old.

local parts store and dealer a $100 for one inner and $40-60 for the outers... Kind of pricey huh?

 

[toy fanatic78]

Good info on the ball joints Toy. thanks.

Don't thank me,thank the old trusty TSRM.

 

[grimreaper]

the tie rod section must have been lost in translation

 

[supradjza80]

Grim - I actually work there ( at least for the time being) I found this discount code which should be for 5%. Just enter it in the "how you heard about us" line of your order. 12A1C3279BDC.

I purchased moog front ball joints in May and they were top notch!

Good Luck

 

[grimreaper]

NICE!:drink1:

 

[iamtherhino]

Grim - I actually work there ( at least for the time being) I found this discount code which should be for 5%. Just enter it in the "how you heard about us" line of your order. 12A1C3279BDC.

I purchased moog front ball joints in May and they were top notch!

Good Luck

Just ordered new Moog inner and outer tie rods and a Haynes manual. Thanks for the info!

 

[grimreaper]

***UPDATE***

new tie rods have made a world of difference. Just got back from the alignment shop and the steering effort is noticeably easier as well as response. There used to be a bit of free play when turning the steering wheel to change lanes. A+++ repair.

 

[dumbo]

:thumbup:well done