924Board.org

davethehypnotist · Joined: 16 Jan 2015 Posts: 29 Location: Georgia

GBot a tie rod issue.
Are they bad?
Watch this really short :43 video

https://youtu.be/sZlxe5n1yTU

JL91 · Joined: 28 Jul 2015 Posts: 4 Location: Derby, UK

The shaft is meant to rotate a bit as its a ball joint. To test if a track rod end has gone, jack up the vehicle grab the wheel at 3 and 9 and rock it backwards and forwards(towards and away from you), if there's any knocking or clunking or play in the track rod end then its worn.

Similar to how you check to see if a wheel bearing has play in it (But you grab it at 12 and 6 instead)

You will feel the knock/play in the track rod if there is any,

snakoil · Joined: 09 Feb 2010 Posts: 362 Location: Montreal, Canada

the shaft shouldn't be turning freely like that
normally the big bolt near the tire on the shaft is made to tighten the tie rod end to the shaft....
you will need to tighten the nut and the tie rod end together in order to stop it from moving.
Tie rod end needs to follow the tie rod movement.
_________________
1979 924 NA

jason c · Joined: 13 Jan 2014 Posts: 1018 Location: Nwi

The twisting you're showing is completely normal, it is a ball & socket design (just like your shoulder). However, it looks at the beginning of the video you are able to get some in/out, side to side movement- that is not normal.
The proper procedure for testing the tie rods is to grab the wheel at the 9 & 3 plo'clock positions & wiggle the wheel side to side like you're turning the steering wheel right-left-right-left just a little bit. You will be able to feel the play. You can also look at the joint while you do it, if there is play (movement on one part of the joint but not the other), the joint is bad.

maybeoneday · Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2015 6:11 pm Post subject:

davethehypnotist · Joined: 16 Jan 2015 Posts: 29 Location: Georgia

I jacked up the car and did the test. Here is the video of the results. Looks like they are both bad but could the inners just be loose?

I think I may have to remove the boot to actually find out.

https://youtu.be/8Jfoj99Hcpg

Video is just over a minute.

maybeoneday

fiat22turbo · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 4040 Location: Portland, OR

The inner and outer tie-rods are available from parts houses and are fairly easily replaced.

The rack's internals do wear, but there is a pretension bolt to help take up slack from wear. If the wear is too much, then the internals need to be rebuilt/replaced.

The U-joints are also wear points, they are harder to service though as you have to send the entire shaft to a company in the US to replace them.
_________________
Stefan
1979 924 Carrera GTS (clone-ish)
1988 944 Turbo S (Silver Rose)

davethehypnotist · Joined: 16 Jan 2015 Posts: 29 Location: Georgia

I took one side off and took a look at the tie rod. The outer are fine. The inners are really loose. Should these be covered in grease? They aren't. I'm thinking about just packing them with grease and putting them back on. I ordered a replacement from the parts store that were for a VW rabbit of the same year as this board says they were exact replacements and they aren't they are the correct size but 2" too short so I sent them back.

So the question is my fellow 924 enthusiasts. Are the inner tie rods supposed to be packed in grease. It seems as though they were and the grease just wore away. It's only been 32 years since they were serviced so what say you. Pack them?

Physically they look perfect just loose.

fiat22turbo · Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 4040 Location: Portland, OR

Replace them.
_________________
Stefan
1979 924 Carrera GTS (clone-ish)
1988 944 Turbo S (Silver Rose)