Ball Joint - Tie Rod .... am I close?

va3dwo · Post by **va3dwo** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:09 am

I got myself a set of new wheels, and noticed when putting on the front drivers side wheel is loose.
If my hands are @ 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock, the wheel is loose, not clunk clunk clunk loose, but not tight.
Gonna put it up on the hoist on Monday, just researching before I do.

Thanks.

PS - I'll post some pics of the car with the new wheels shortly.

ubuyau · Post by **ubuyau** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 2:16 am

That's tie rods for sure! Change them over and get a wheel alignment - it'll feel so much more controllable on the road.

--Tim

va3dwo · Post by **va3dwo** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 5:03 am

Thanks - I thought so just wasn't 100 percent sure.
Do you know if I can just change the tie rod? Or do I have to change the whole tie rod assembly?

ubuyau · Post by **ubuyau** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:15 am

Ill assume you're asking if you can change just the tie rod ends? If that's your question then .... yes you can change just the tie rod ends

Mine were sloppy as all **** after 5.5yrs

--Tim

JohnnyC · Post by **JohnnyC** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 3:33 pm

And all **** can get pretty sloppy!

daewoomofo · Post by **daewoomofo** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 3:37 pm

yeah hyou can change just a tie rod end, but it doesnt hurt to do the ball joints too, thej are just a pain in the ass, you have to grind the three rivits off to get it off the lower controle arm, yeah it sucks but its cheap insurance

GsiTurbo · Post by **GsiTurbo** » Sun Apr 23, 2006 4:34 pm

You will need to have the wheel alignment redone after. For a temp fix, count the number of turns it takes to remove the old tie-rod end. Then screw in the new one the same number of turns.

For some reason, I am under the impression one of the tie-rod ends has left-hand thread, and other one is the right-hand... At least that was an issue I had with the Lemans (Lanos has same suspension setup).

daewoomofo · Post by **daewoomofo** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:13 am

yeah they are different threads

MMamdouh · Post by **MMamdouh** » Mon Apr 24, 2006 9:30 pm

daewoomofo wrote:yeah hyou can change just a tie rod end, but it doesnt hurt to do the ball joints too, thej are just a pain in the ass, you have to grind the three rivits off to get it off the lower controle arm, yeah it sucks but its cheap insurance

thats what i did... nothing beats control when all joints are new.

MMamdouh