Bent Tie Rod
 

My car is pulling to the left and I have to hold the wheel about 15 degrees to the right to make it drive straight. My right outer tie rod is bent (or so the people at Midas tell me), but I didn't have the money to fix that when I went in. I've driven probably 5000 miles or so with it bent. Any idea how dangerous this is? And I think they quoted me 180 for parts and labor.

Bending a tie rod is hard to do. Have you hit anything, like a curb, or a big pothole lately? That kind of stuff can do it. I wouldn't put it off, if it truly is bent. It can be a dangerous situation, and you'll put more stress on the front end of the car, with it throwing the front end out of alignment. What kind of car do you drive?

Wont they wear your tires out faster also?

There is a guy at work that drove the whole week to work with a BROKEN tie rod....stupid person!

You will probably need to get a new set of tires after this. As for driving, fix it as soon as possible. Right now you're opening up to a wide variety of accidents or more expensive repairs, where you could just fix the small problem.

Wow i hope he doesn't have to turn ever.....kinda hard with one well straight and the other crooked...

I got hit from behind and I the front right wheel hit the curb. So I guess I'll scrounge up the money and fix it as soon as I have it. Thanks for the advice.

The car is a 94 Mitsubishi Galant.

if you got hit from behind, the idiot that hit you should be paying for it.

Yeah, get it fixed ASAP. Not only are you wrecking the front tires, but you're also stressing out the suspension on that side. You could wind up replacing a lot more than a tie rod.

Yeah, I can buy that being bent, then. Could still just be a fubar'd tie rod end, though. Get a second opinion. It's much cheaper, AND you can do it yourself. Yes, you will wear out the front tires out faster, add stress to the inner tie rod ends, and probably the other tie rod ends on the other side of the car.

To PainTrain...I don't think he drove with a broken tie rod...it's impossible to do. Probably was a fubar'd tie rod end.

Basicaly if it is bent and breaks while your driving your not gonna be able to move that tire. Somehow i ended up brake both of mine at the same time.

Well he said it was broken....I never went over and checked!

<b>Nash</b>, You really need to get that fixed. By constantly having to correct the steering you are scrubbing the rubber off your tires, your mileage must be crap, and heavy braking is a thrill ride.

Your Galant has rack and pinion. Tie rod ends are about twenty dollars, a rack is around 280.00. I think 180.00 for repair, alignment, and a warranty is a very fair deal.

Like DEI said, its not that hard to replace just a tie rod end, and they are not that expensive. Even if you have little to no mechanical experience, with tools, u should be able to do it yourself in an hour or so.

Yeah, I just did a TRE in my Delta 88...took 30 minutes...not knowing exactly what I needed, and having the car fall off of the jack, and bending it...BEFORE I was completed. The hardest part is making sure that the alignment is correct again.

Thats easy to check go for a test drive and let go of the steering wheel if you end up in the ditch or a head on collision the alignment is off:D


j/k its hard to eye ball if the alignment is right on...but maybe if you know someone that does that work will take a look for free!

Without one of those little bubble-hub-attacher alignment thingies, or a real alignment rack, its almost impossible to get the alignment correct. You can get it close by eyeballing and a measuring tape, but not quite right.

Also, if you dont get it aligned right (i.e. your TOE adjustment is off) you wont end up in a ditch if you let go of the wheel. An out of whack toe adjustment wont lead to a pull. Toe evens out in the front as you drive, so what you will end up with is crappy tire wear, and if you let go, a steering wheel that isn't centered. You will go straight if you let go, but the wheel will be pointing somewhere else. But if you insist on keeping the wheel centered with a messed up toe reading, yes, the car will pull to one side because you are essentially turning the wheels.

Not impossible just tricky/exciting. I broke a tie rod end on an old toyota pick up once and drove it that way 30+km on a logging road to get to pavement. Took a couple hours. You really only need three wheels functioning in an emgerency. Look at how rally drivers can flog a car with an A-arm missing to the next service.

Here's another tip curtosey of that truck: a green fir sapling makes a serviceable rear leaf spring. Hardest part is determining what diameter tree to use.

Ah, etla, there is a difference between a broke tie rod, and a broken tie rod END. You are correct, in that in the way most cars today are made, you CAN steer a car to the side of the road with a broken tie rod end. However, if you break a tie rod, then you completely loose the connection between the steering box, and the spindle/knuckle on that side of the car, and it'll go wherever it feels like it.

And, yikes...using a tree for a leaf spring!!! You, my friend, have a bigger set of cajones than I!

hmmm...I've used trees as skids in lieu of wheels (hub breakage), but the leaf spring is a new one....

Hi, I'm the thread starter. I'm actually getting decent mileage, around 28-30 per gallon. Hasn't changed since I bent it. I'll get the tie rod replaced asap.