Loose tie rod

[J Wikoff]

About two weeks ago, my steering wheel was just a hair off to the right, and there was no pull, and that's how it had left the shop from its last alignment in April. Then all of a sudden, it's 10-15 degrees off the other way and it pulls to the right. I found a loose tie rod end today, on the passenger side. When I tightened it back up, the whole rod spun, as the nut and threads had corrosion around them and looked like they hadn't moved in some time. I don't think the inner was loose on its threads, it just seemed like it was spinning in the joint. Do you think I should be considering new tie rods?

[WhatNext]

For it to come loose means something is missing or falling apart. So don't drive it, that wheel can pop out.

[mjones73]

I'm assuming you mean you can turn the shaft on the inner tie rod, it's supposed to be able to do that. You turn it to adjust the alignment then lock the nut on it up against the outer tie rod. If you look the rod has flat spots or marks where you can grip it with a wrench. If the lock nut won't turn, you're gonna have to get it to move or replace the inner tie rod.

Now if you jack up the car and rock the wheel back and forth while holding at the 3 and 9 positions and get play where the inner tie rod mounts to the rack, I'd consider replacing it.

[J Wikoff]

Since it looked like the nut hadn't moved in a long time, I spun the nut and inner tie rod together to tighten up the rod end. The steering wheel is back to where it was before.

[WhatNext]

It shouldn't have come loose. Are you sure there are no worn or damaged components?

Mjones - what do you think?

[J Wikoff]

What could cause it to come loose other than the shop not tightening it properly? I don't recall hitting anything.

[WhatNext]

It was in the shop for an alignment back in April? And it came loose recently, that's why I am suspicious that something isn't physically right. Hopefully the guys with a lot of hands on experience will weigh in. But of course you can have a good shop look at it too.

[J Wikoff]

When I had it done in April, they didn't have the wheel very straight, so I went back to Sears and they guy said he had to "get the nut more with the torch". He didn't specify what nut.

[mjones73]

I'm guessing they didn't get the lock nut tightened down, specially if it's corroded like you said it is. It needs to be snug up against the outer tie rod or it can back out like yours did.