What are some signs it is time to change a tie rod?|||looseness in the steering, a popping sound when turning or hitting bumps, and visual movement in the actual tie rod.|||If a tie rod is gone you need to replace the motor.|||Have the cars alignment checked and he will tell you if they are worn, If he don%26#039;t tell you ask him to check them for you , hope this helps.|||A tie rod is part of the suspension in the front. Excessive tire ware or steering play can be a good indicator, but most likely you will know when they cannot align your car or the alignment will not hold it settings.|||yeah bdgizzy you sure know what your talking about .. It is hard to notice when to change the tie rod a little bit of steering play is common or sometimes pulling to a side , but those could be alignment issues also . Basically inspect it for damage , even if the rubber cover is cracked , replace them .Usually 75-100k miles is normal .|||I wish I knew what bdgizzy was talking about. But take your car to a tech to tell if it bad. The way to tell if it is bad, is to wiggle tire (off the ground) if the tie rod moves before the rest of steering it is bad. If you do replace it get an alignment after-wards.|||Tie Rods give a long advance warning before they need replacement. Somethings to note are:-
1. A judder from the front suspension when you hit a bump or rough patch on the road..
2. A slight %26#039;clicking%26#039; sound when you gently turn the steering either ways with the engine stopped.
3. Hold the front wheel horizontally and move your hands back and forth as if trying to shake the wheel. Any undue movement would indicate weak tie rod ends.
4. Jack up you car and physically check with a strong screw driver or a crow bar for any play in the tie rods.
Tie rods are esential for the safety of you car, so perhaps you may want to have these checked out by a professional suspension mechanic.
Good luck.
