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Outer tie rod ends keep coming loose (Brand new)

11K views 2 replies 2 participants last post by  NicoleB27  
#1 ·
Hi all! I am new here and could not find another thread to post my question on! I have a 2002 Envoy and about 2 weeks ago I had a bunch of work done: All 4 tie rods (inner and outer), power steering rack, and front brakes were all replaced (among other mundane things like oil change, filter etc.). Two days after having it all done, the car began to shake pretty hard. Took it back to the mechanic and the tie rod ends had come loose so he tightened them up. Tried to get the alignment done and the ends are loose again along with a bad upper ball joint on the driver side (front). I am getting the ball joint done tonight but my question is if the alignment is off, will that alone cause the tie rod ends to keep coming loose? If not, does anyone have any idea why they keep coming loose? Could the mechanic have screwed up on the tie rods?
 
#2 ·
If the tie rod ends are made with the correct taper, and they were tightened properly, they will not come loose. Doesn't matter how much shaking happens in the front end.

On another forum a member installed poor quality tie rod ends with a taper that wasn't correct. It came loose. Once it has been left loose the taper will get pounded out and even installing the correct taper stud will not stay tight.

Cheap parts or not tightened, if it's come loose and wiggled around, you will very likely need to replace the spindle and install a quality tie rod end to restore the correct fitment.

I always use Moog parts and never had an issue in 45 years.
 
#3 ·
Thank you. I took it to another mechanic and the tie rod ends were not loose (as I was told when I took it in for an alignment). The left, upper ball joint had a rip in the boot (as the mechanic put it) which, after being replaced, calmed all of the excess shaking in my car.

The same mechanic that did the tie rods also replaced my power steering rack. I had a slow fluid leak which caused a horrible winding sound when starting the car and while making turns. I was told (by the mechanic that did not fix the other issues i was having) that the leak was coming from a piston in the rack and the entire thing needed replaced. After replacing the rack, all has been fine for the past 2 weeks but the winding sound is back again and I just put power steering fluid in it. The sound went away almost immediately but now I have other fears. This same mechanic also replaced my front brakes. I am now worried that my brakes may fail. I fear the mechanic botched the entire job putting me and my 4 year old son at risk if the brakes fail. I am going to be taking the car back in (to a different shop) to try and figure out what's going on with the power steering and to have them check my brakes to be sure they were done correctly. Thanks again for your reply.