would you guys change tie rods? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

surfblau · #1 09-03-2002, 01:05 PM

I am finishing my partial frontend rebuild on the SDL and have done the following.

- one new upper control arm
- two new lower ball joints
- new center link
- new steering damper
- new idler arm bushings
- one guide rod ball joint
- sway bar bushings
(no lower control arm bushings)

Should I replace the tie rods even though they do not seem to have play and the boots are intact?

They are at least 3 years old, and I am going to get an alignment next week.

As I type this up, it looks like I might as well drop another $60 and more or less finish the job.

Any opinions?

leathermang · #2 09-03-2002, 01:11 PM

If you have any parts with play then it causes the new parts you have installed to wear out faster... So I think it is a great investent... but why no lower control are bushings ?

surfblau · #3 09-03-2002, 02:38 PM

I skipped the lower control arm bushings because a guy at an alignment place where I attempted to get it alligned when I first bought the car said that they were ok. But his trustworthyness is suspect.

Plus, they looked like they were in pretty good shape and I didn't want to mess with spring compression.

I have also read in a couple of posts how the lower control arm bushings last longer than many of the other components.

I will probably replace them in a couple of years when I have my own garage.

later

suginami · #4 09-03-2002, 03:56 PM

You can replace the bushings in the tie rod ends without replacing the whole tie rod.

I had mine replaced because they were worn out and the car couldn't be aligned.

They were fairly cheap - less than $100.

Worn out tie rod ends will make a big difference in the quality of the ride. If they're worn out, you may experience a sloppiness in the steering wheel, and / or you may experience a tire wobble, very similar to a tire that is out of balance, except that the tire will wobble from side-to-side instead of up and down.

P.E.Haiges · #5 09-03-2002, 07:06 PM

Tie rod ends only 3 years old? Mine are 22 years old and I'm not about to replace them as long as they are not loose. If I do ever replace them, I would only repace the ends, not the whole rod.

Possibly mine last so long is because every 25,000 miles I give them a shot of grease with a hypodermic grease needle.

P E H

surfblau · #6 09-04-2002, 12:26 AM

there was a patina of rust on the threads of the control rod ends, even though there is no rust anywhere else on the car, so maybe they are original, but the rubber boot sure looked new.

Clearly, at some point, someone hit a curb (or another vehicle) and bent the alloy wheel (currently the spare) a fair amount. I am thinking that that event must have affected the rest of the front suspension.

If you got 22 years out of a pair of tie rods, I bet that qualifies them as geriatric, at least as far as tie rods go.

thanks for the input.