Is my Tie rod done?
14-Dec-2007, 11:51 AM
#1
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Is my Tie rod done?
I was driving to work today and noticed my steering was very wobbly. I thought maybe it was a flat, so I ran outside to have a look. Nothing....
At first I got scared and thought it might a ball joint, but then things like that don't happen so suddenly. So now I'm left wondering, could one of my tie-rods be going?
What do I do? Can I drive to a mechanic safely (20 Km away) without running the risk of it breaking on me?
It started yesterday now that I think about it. I thought it might have been ice.
1997 Civic Si, 245 000 on suspension
anything else I should change while I'm down there?
At first I got scared and thought it might a ball joint, but then things like that don't happen so suddenly. So now I'm left wondering, could one of my tie-rods be going?
What do I do? Can I drive to a mechanic safely (20 Km away) without running the risk of it breaking on me?
It started yesterday now that I think about it. I thought it might have been ice.
1997 Civic Si, 245 000 on suspension
anything else I should change while I'm down there?
14-Dec-2007, 04:28 PM
#4
tell you what? your description of the problem is on par with a child describing the space shuttle. if you expect a decent reply, you need to start with a solid question and not:
steering wheel wobbly, not flat tire. what's wrong?
did you check if your lug nuts were tight?
did you check for ice inside your wheel?
did you check tire pressure?
did you turn the wheel lock to lock and see if there is a dead raccoon stuck in your suspension?
odds are, if the lug nuts are tight, and the wheel itself doesn't move around (grab the tire and shake the car by the tire), you should be ok driving it to the mechanic.
steering wheel wobbly, not flat tire. what's wrong?
did you check if your lug nuts were tight?
did you check for ice inside your wheel?
did you check tire pressure?
did you turn the wheel lock to lock and see if there is a dead raccoon stuck in your suspension?
odds are, if the lug nuts are tight, and the wheel itself doesn't move around (grab the tire and shake the car by the tire), you should be ok driving it to the mechanic.
14-Dec-2007, 07:47 PM
#5
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My steering has a bit of wobble, and its due to the bushing on the lower control arm at the chassis.
It can be many things, tie rod, bushing, steering shaft (linkage), ball joint.
Get someone who knows what theyre looking at to deal with it if you dont.
It can be many things, tie rod, bushing, steering shaft (linkage), ball joint.
Get someone who knows what theyre looking at to deal with it if you dont.
15-Dec-2007, 02:26 PM
#6
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Posts: 1,505
Alright fine.. more details
had the car up today.. zero play in the wheel. The CV boot is ripped to bits, so maybe it's that. The ball joint seems to be ok, but im not too sure.
the wobble on the steering wheel happens right after I let go of the gas pedal, but only sometimes. I can't seem to determine a patern at all. Some times its fine. Tires are fine, proper pressure. I just started doing it days ago.
Under heavy breaking I can hear a clicking type noise (ball joint?)
I'm now leaning towards the ball joint... but don't want to replace it if it's fine
had the car up today.. zero play in the wheel. The CV boot is ripped to bits, so maybe it's that. The ball joint seems to be ok, but im not too sure.
the wobble on the steering wheel happens right after I let go of the gas pedal, but only sometimes. I can't seem to determine a patern at all. Some times its fine. Tires are fine, proper pressure. I just started doing it days ago.
Under heavy breaking I can hear a clicking type noise (ball joint?)
I'm now leaning towards the ball joint... but don't want to replace it if it's fine
15-Dec-2007, 03:02 PM
#7
balljoint does not click repeatedly under heavy braking.
you check the balljoint (lower) by putting the car up in the air, wheels off, then using a pry bar to pry the steering knuckle away from the LCA, if you see play, then the ball joint is on it's way out.
the clicking and wobble can both be caused by the CV joint. some mk4 jettas have this problem under acceleration where the steering wheel wobbles while accelerating... I suspect the same could happen when braking or getting off the gas.
you check the balljoint (lower) by putting the car up in the air, wheels off, then using a pry bar to pry the steering knuckle away from the LCA, if you see play, then the ball joint is on it's way out.
the clicking and wobble can both be caused by the CV joint. some mk4 jettas have this problem under acceleration where the steering wheel wobbles while accelerating... I suspect the same could happen when braking or getting off the gas.
16-Dec-2007, 12:06 AM
#8
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Join Date: Aug 2003
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balljoint does not click repeatedly under heavy braking.
you check the balljoint (lower) by putting the car up in the air, wheels off, then using a pry bar to pry the steering knuckle away from the LCA, if you see play, then the ball joint is on it's way out.
the clicking and wobble can both be caused by the CV joint. some mk4 jettas have this problem under acceleration where the steering wheel wobbles while accelerating... I suspect the same could happen when braking or getting off the gas.
you check the balljoint (lower) by putting the car up in the air, wheels off, then using a pry bar to pry the steering knuckle away from the LCA, if you see play, then the ball joint is on it's way out.
the clicking and wobble can both be caused by the CV joint. some mk4 jettas have this problem under acceleration where the steering wheel wobbles while accelerating... I suspect the same could happen when braking or getting off the gas.
Today driving home it was shaky the entire time when I was on the gas. I get off the gas and the problem goes away. Pull the clutch and the problem goes away. I remember when my CV joint went on my golf it was doing a similar thing.
Is the car ok to drive to the mechanic if it is the joint? What's the worst that can happen? I was scared it was the Balljoint and didn't want my wheel to pop off
16-Dec-2007, 02:18 AM
#9
the cv breaking completely can cause catastophic results if it breaks on the inside joint. the outside one (close to the wheel), the axle will be contained within the fork that goes around it and will be ok besides being undriveable.
19-Dec-2007, 10:39 AM
#14
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19-Dec-2007, 09:38 PM
#15
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Location: Peterborough, ON
Posts: 53
how were they a pain...all you need is a prybar on the inside of the shaft between it and the trans and give it a quick pull of the bar and they fall right out. thats the hardest part...all the rest should have gone easily. I dont know how much ppl would charge to do them ...probably an hr a side...so thats too much...lol
Last edited by 94exr; 19-Dec-2007 at 10:35 PM.
23-Dec-2007, 12:35 AM
#17
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Peterborough, ON
Posts: 53
always gotta draw some blood working on a car...its like a law or something haha. sucks to hear that though...stupid cars...but its expensive to get someone else to work on them...i am one of those people...its nasty seeing the bills people have to pay after i work on their cars...i'm at a dealership...but the dealership level has many many advantages...i have worked at both private and dealerships now.
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