now what? Failing tie rod?

[mattadams]

Well after welding the axle drop-down bracket back on, and test-driving around town, the vehicle was loosing control constantly... what I mean by loosing control is the tires would start going uncontrollably from left to right and left to right, until I was able to stop the vehicle. Then upon restarting it would be fine for a ways then start wobbling like crazy. So, I pulled off the wheels, checked the bearings and the tightness of the hub nuts, all appears well. Problem is that it looks like my passenger side tie rod might be out. If I grab it and twist it, it twists very freely, like it takes no force to twist it. THe drivers side I can twist but it takes a fair amount of effort. I know these things are designed to "pivot" so yo u don't snap them, but could that be the problem? If so I'll be spending tomorrow working on that rather then going to Moab, agh. Everything seemed fine when I took it off-road last weekend now its like everything is failing! Argh!

 

[tdavis]

Matt, do you have the superrunner steering? It does sound like you've got a bad tie rod end.

If so, the tie rod ends at the knuckles (that's the short pieces) are stock ford explorer parts. (found that one out in the mojave desert!)

How to replace it:

1) get a new one from autozone. (cheap, cheap, cheap)
2) find a grease gun.
3) measure the how long the rod is.
4) loosen the two bolts on the sleeve with the slot in it.
5) pull the cotter pin, undo big nut.
6) using hammer, tap out old tie rod. Or find a pickle fork.
7) remove from tie rod end; *do not turn the sleeve*.
8) screw new tie rod end on, turning until the sleeve is covering the same amount as before.
9) place new tie rod in knuckle, use nut, pull it in. Make tight, install cotter pin. tighten two nuts on sleeve.
10) lube it.
11) now's the tricky part. drive it, and carrier a big screwdriver if it pulls to the right, shorten the rod. if it pulls to the left, lengthen the rod. you do this by turning that sleeve you loosened. Repeat till no pulling.

wala, tie rod end replaced, no alignment needed.

 

[mattadams]

well, its confirmed... its the passenger side tie rod end. I knew it was a stock part because I had replaced the drivers side one a few months back, should've just done em both, but I"m a fool, LOL. Anyways, I've got way too much to do between then and now with catching up on schoolwork and such, plus after working all night last night on the damn O2 sensors and working on the axle drop down bracket, I didn't feel much like working on it anymore, so I took it to my second most trusted mechanic, who said it'll be done by 10 tomorrow morning, including the alignment. Woohoo! I'll be in Moab by 9 hopefully, assuming it still gets decent power, LOL.

 

[TDG]

Originally posted by mattadams
The tires would start going uncontrollably from left to right and left to right, until I was able to stop the vehicle. Then upon restarting it would be fine for a ways then start wobbling like crazy.

You mean explorers aren't supposed to do that?

 

[mattadams]

Re: Re: now what? Failing tie rod?

Originally posted by TDG


You mean explorers aren't supposed to do that?

there only supposed to do that if you've got firestones