LCA or Tie-Rod

[jeffmx5]

I've got a (new to me) 1998 SVT. When I took it in to have an alignment/balance done they said I had a bad Passenger tie-rod. However, I just had the passenger tie-rod replaced a month prior along with the clutch. There is definitely something wrong in the front end. I'm pretty sure I need the LCA's replaced.

Could bad LCA bushings be mis-diagnosed as a tie-rod?

[getsum111]

On my car, the ball joint on the LCA was bad, but the symptoms pointed to a tie-rod end and or bad wheel bearing. Only Realized it after replacing the aforementioned parts. Doh! When you jack the car up, grab the wheel at 3 and 6 and push/pull, WHILE looking at the LCA.

[jeffmx5]

Thanks for the info, I'm going to try and look at it this weekend...

[projectSHO89]

There's a big difference between a tie rod and a tie rod end.

Replacing an end is easy, rreplacing the tie rod itself is a lot more involved.

Steve

[polackSVT]

what are the symptoims of bad tie rods/ends?. sometimes when i step on break pedal too hard, i feel that something "slides " and bangs down there,

[jeffmx5]

I had a chance to get under the car last night and it is definitely the LCAs. Using a big screwdriver I could lever the arm and move the LCA ‘hinge’ at LEAST ¼” without much effort. From what I could see the bushings looked like they were missing some material as well. Definitely need LCAs.

[getsum111]

There is supposed to be a bit of a wedge missing from the bushing. Not that your's may not be bad, but when I got my new one's, I was supprised for a second that the new bushings had a space in them, too. They made a HUGE difference in how the car handled.

[getsum111]

what are the symptoims of bad tie rods/ends?. sometimes when i step on break pedal too hard, i feel that something "slides " and bangs down there,

Jack up one wheel, grab tire w/ hands @ 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock, and push/pull. Should be very little movement of tire. You can sort of see/feel where the knuckle is wiggling from, esp. if you look @ tie rod end.

[m4gician]

On my car, the ball joint on the LCA was bad, but the symptoms pointed to a tie-rod end and or bad wheel bearing. Only Realized it after replacing the aforementioned parts. Doh! When you jack the car up, grab the wheel at 3 and 6 and push/pull, WHILE looking at the LCA.

It's funny you mention this, every time I go to the alignment guy he always says that yet I've had my dad's alignment guy (other side of town) look at it and he says its fine, he's the same guy who replaced my outer ti-rods two oil changes ago.

[jeffmx5]

Here is how much my Driver's LCA moves when pried with a big screwdriver... Is this too much???

I could also move the other side, a lesser amount, with the tire on the ground.