Well it finally happened, the truck left me stranded.
First time since I've had it, also first time that it's ever been on a tow truck since I've had it too.

I put on new brake pads on the front Friday night, and hadn't drove it since.
Well while doing the brakes I noticed some play in the tie rod end. It wasn't real bad, I couldn't even feel the play in the steering wheel, so I thought to myself; well, next time I'm in town, I'll buy a new one and replace that, then have it aligned. Well we went to my parents house for lunch today, along the way I was just telling my wife that I was going to run in and buy a new tie rod end after lunch and since I'm not working tomorrow I'll change it then.

I didn't much more than get the words out of my mouth and the truck started shaking. I thought, surely not the tie rod... well, maybe I forgot to tighten a tire after I lowered it and the lug nuts came loose. Never done that before.... I usually check them 3 or 4 times. So I get out and check them both. No, that's not the problem, so I had the wife pull it forward while I stood several feet ahead and watched. Everything looked fine, so I got in and we started again. Was smooth so I started to accelerate back up to speed. Soon as I hit 20 mph, I couldn't hang on to the steering wheel because it was shaking so bad. (I just detailed the interior yesterday and got some leather conditioner on the steering wheel, so it is a little slick.) So I pull back over, and start to jack it up, before I got it off the ground, I hear snap and the truck shifts to the side. Look and sure enough that stupid tie rod end had broke.

What are the odds? It really didn't seem that bad, I bet it wasn't more than 1/16: of play in it, I've drove on ALOT worse before. Thank god it actually broke along side the road and when it was non mobile. Could have been much worse.

So everyone, go out right now and check your ball joints and tie rod ends. If there is any play... replace those suckers!

 

geez! You jinxed yourself! First problem on your truck now for the 6 years you have had it is great!

like you said though, could have been A LOT worse.

Goodluck with the fix!

 

when i replaced my shocks last year i noticed 1 ball joint was loose so i replaced all 4. after it was off i looked at it and it was almost wore through. i tugged on the tie rods but they seemed ok. i think I'll recheck them this week when i change my oil. I'll grease them as well. i use a needle on the grease gun.

meg, it would have been ugly if it broke at any speed. you and your wife are lucky, very lucky.

 

Ohh it's fixed...
I had it taken to dads, I was on my way to eat, can't interrupt that mission!

After I ate then took moms exploder in to get a new one and used dads shop to change it. I'll call and get an apointment to get it alighned first thing tomorrow. I got it close but pulls to the left slightly.

Before it broke it took a big chunk out of the inside of my wheel. Will make a run to the salvage yard to get a new one tomarrow too.

 

Yes I know, kids were with us too, we were on one of the gravel roads between mine and dads houses. So wouldn't have been driveing very fast, but like you said even 35 mph would have been a nasty view of the ditch.

 

now can I ask a dumb question?

what is a tie rod and what does it do? do all cars and trucks have them? lol I feel like an idiot for asking that, but mine as well get the scoop on it since this is a thread about them

 

Well the tie rod is the part that connect the two front tires together. When you turn the steering wheel it turns one tire, the tie rod is connected to both tires so it turns the other too.
At each end of the tie rod there are ball joint style fitings that screw into the tube (connectiong tube), 2 on each side, (driver side inner and outer, passenger side inner and outer) this is the alignment adjustment. The tie rod ends are what ussually go out.

Edited to add:

 

Thanks Matt!

 

autoshop 101


...zap!

 

Daaaamn Matt, that sucks, but it's a good thing that you were parked when it happened. You want to help me replace my balljoints when I come down to buy that boat?

 

peice of cake replacing them. just have some beer handy

 

Ball joint????
Are they factory?
If they are factory I belive you have to change the whole control arm.
After markets are replaceable, but I think factory are non servicable.

Edited to add:
Here is the man to tell us.

 

only the uppers.

 

One of my uppers has been replaced, but I don't know when, it was before I got it. And I might as well replace them all while I'm at it. I'll probably do new shocks while I'm down there too. And I'll give you the money for the beer, I'd buy it for you but I'm only 18.....

 

I knew my lowers had grease zerts and my uppers do not, but thought maybe the lowers had been changed before.