How to tell if a Tie Rod is Bad: Your Expert Guide

How to tell if a tie rod is bad: Your expert guide

Have you ever taken your car in for repairs and been told that you have an issue with your tie rod? But what is a tie rod, and what does a tie rod do? As always, Toyota of Orlando is here and making it simple ™ — check out our detailed guide to this very important car part.

What is a tie rod?

Tie rods are an essential part of your Orlando Toyota's steering system. Their job is to connect the steering wheel to the steering knuckle (your front tires, essentially). Without them, you wouldn't be able to move your wheels when you drive, which means you wouldn't be able to steer at all. They're a critical component of performance and that's why it's important to maintain, fix, and replace them when necessary.

What does a tie rod do?

As noted, tie rods make steering in your car possible. However, just like any other car part, they're susceptible to wear and tear as well as damage. Your tie rods will wear out over time, and they can also be damaged by potholes, car accidents, and more. So what happens if a tie rod wears out? Here are some of the issues your Orlando Toyota might experience in this scenario:

• Your tires will wear out more quickly which means you have to replace them more often
• Your car may be pushed out of alignment
• You can lose control of your steering and eventually, not be able to steer the car at all

Obviously, the effects can be serious (even leading to an accident or collision). But do you know how to tell if a tie rod is bad?

How to tell if a tie rod is bad

If you know how to tell if a tie rod is bad, you can save yourself a lot of time and money (and possibly even a car accident). Here are some signs that your tie rod is failing and it's time to visit Toyota of Orlando's auto service center for repairs or replacement.

Sign #1: Your tires are wearing unevenly. Can you see excessive wear on one side of your tires but not the other? This can be caused by a multitude of issues (like needing an alignment), but can also be a surefire sign of a failing tie rod. You definitely want an expert to take a look.

Sign #2: Your steering wheel is shaking or feels looser than usual. Your steering wheel is a good indicator of a bad tie rod. Remember, the tie rods link the steering wheel to the front tires. If you have one or more tie rods going bad, you may notice your steering wheel shaking or vibrating excessively when you drive, and it'll get worse when you turn. You may also notice that your steering wheel feels “looser” — you have to turn it farther to get the same results. Let our Orlando Toyota service techs check your vehicle to see where the problem is coming from.

Sign #3: You hear clunking or knocking noises. If you hear clunking, knocking, or other odd noises when you're turning your car, you might have a tie rod that's wearing out or going bad. Definitely have our Orlando auto service techs take a look — they know how to tell if a tie rod is going bad and can easily pinpoint your issue.

Sign #4: Your alignment goes out. You want your wheels to be aligned at all times for the best performance possible, longer tire wear, and safety. If you notice your vehicle is pulling to one side or seems misaligned, it could be due to a bad tie rod. Bring your car into Toyota of Orlando to have our techs check things out.

Schedule auto service and repairs at Toyota of Orlando today

Now that you know how to tell if a tie rod is bad, do you need auto service? Call Toyota of Orlando to schedule today at (407) 298-0001. We're open seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Mall of Millenia!