Play In Tie Rod/Track Rod Ends?

[Steve]

Noticed the other day when driving down the road if i hit a cats eye, i get slight play in the steering wheel. I dont have any knocks yet.

the other day when i had the wheels off that my track rod ends i can move around fairly easy by hand e.g grab the road end and move it left right if that makes sense.

Pretty sure they are meant to be fairly stiff?

Think replacing them will get rid of the play in the wheel, its not loads but the car doesnt feel as "solid" as it once did when hitting bumps/cats eyes etc.

 

[Ryan-EK9]

Hi There,

Are you sure its the track rod ends that have gone and not the tie rod's?

If you jack the car up on one side and keep the wheel on, grab the wheel at the 9 and 3 o'clock position and wiggle the wheel. As you've said there's play somewhere so you should feel movement in the wheel. If you stick you head under the wheel (or easier still, get a friend to do it while you wiggle the wheel) and you see the movement in the track rod end ball joint then thats the track rod end on it's way out, if you dont see movement in the ball joint theres still play then it will be your tie rod thats on its way out (or both if your unlucky lol)

As to your last question, yes, replacing these parts (which ever ones have gone) with get rid of the play.

Hope this makes it eaiser to identify.

 

[Jimbo]

i just replaced both tie rods on mine, after changing the tie rod ends and the problem still being promenant. check and double check first