Tie rods

**cookie** · 21st December 2007, 14:07

Ive just popped the tie rods off as the car seems a to be wondering and feels really sloppy. Should the tie rods hold themselfs horizontal, mine just drop right down when you let go of them, there is no stiffness at all in them. Is this normal?
Just typical before christmas this is.

**cookie** · 21st December 2007, 14:52

bump

**AJA** · 21st December 2007, 15:09

Tie Rods?

**cookie** · 21st December 2007, 15:19

ok maybe they are called track rods. Im trying to work out if mine have completey gone as i popped the one end off and i thought that the inner end of the track rod should have some sort of stiffness and not just completely floppy.

**AJA** · 21st December 2007, 15:27

If it's what I think you're on about matey, they will fall to the ground if you loosen one end.

**cookie** · 22nd December 2007, 16:15

oh ok, thats one thing rullled out then, i thought maybe that the rods needed replacing. Still cant find why my car seems to be wandering all over the place. I noticed today that standing still and turning on full lock is causing a creaking sound from the rear. Not sure how the front wheels turning causes a noise from the back.

**ed taylor** · 22nd December 2007, 17:15

Are the rear shocks "knackered".
Are the tyres inflated to the correct pressure.

**plasma** · 22nd December 2007, 18:44

Wear on the steering arms can cause wander.

**cookie** · 22nd December 2007, 19:52

How do you detect wear on the steering arms?

I had 4 new tyres put on but it was wandering before, they are all set at 33 psi. I check the rear shocks first thing in the morning.

**cookie** · 22nd December 2007, 21:37

I just moved the car after it had been standing for some time, as soon as i turned the steering wheel to pull out i felt about 3 or 4 judders on the steering wheel as i was turning it, it felt a bit like the front springs where popping back into place. I had a good feel around the front springs the other day and they seemed ok. Is it worth taking them off for a closer inspection. Funnily enough, my front creak/grind noise when going over speed bumps seems to of gone, only difference this time is that its raining, hmmm.