TO No.20
The tie rod ends, located at the outer ends, consist of steel spherical heads inserted into a plastic cup with a small amount of grease, and they themselves do not require maintenance. They are protected from dust and moisture by rubber dust covers, the condition of which must be checked more often:
Check the dust covers over the entire surface for cracks.
Tie rod ends with cracked boots should always be considered defective and replaced.
You can determine whether the joints have play by raising the car and shaking the wheel back and forth around its vertical axis or by shaking the transverse steering rod itself.
Or: ask an assistant to turn the wheel, and then, by placing your hand on the joint, determine if there is any play (the car is on the ground).
If play is detected, the tie rod end should be replaced immediately!
In the same way, the presence of play in the rubber-metal joints of the transverse steering rod at the point of connection with the steering mechanism is checked. If one of the bearings is defective, the entire steering rod must be replaced.
It is necessary to regularly check the condition of the dust seals (arrow) of the tie rod ends. A cracked seal allows moisture and dirt to enter the tie rod joint, causing it to break. Tie rod ends with torn seals must be replaced completely; seals cannot be purchased separately as a spare part.
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