Remember when you told me that my tie rods needed to be replaced? Well, I was just curious, how could a worn out tie rod cause a wheel to lock up and skid? And how could it cause the -wicked- shimmy I feel occasionally at low speeds? Not that I doubt your judgment or knowledge, I just want to know more. Also, my friend who was riding with me in the car says it sounded like it was coming from the back, but I dont know. It hasnt done it lately, because it's okay if I baby it. And I mean BABY it.

My tie rods are worn out.. the joint between the inner and outer has WAY too much play. I'll probably slap on some new ones next week just for good measure.

Damn, you shouldve seen my left front ball joint. When I was pressing it, the ball and stud came out, but the housing and boot were still in the control arm. It was sick.

 

i dont think a tie rod can cause it to lock up and skid like that. that would be something different, need more info on what you were doing when that happened; braking, just going down the road, turning..... but a loose tie rod can cause a shimmy. the loose tie rod will allow the wheel to move from side to side a lil bit.
if youre friend is hearing noise in the rear, id say jack the whole car up, check all your steering and suspension components; bushings, bolts, brackets, tie rods, ball joints, shocks and struts, mounts, etc etc. sounds like you have more than just one thing going on there.

 

Check (screw it, replace it anyway) the Centerlink.

Only things that can lock up a wheel are the wheel bearings, and the caliper sticking on the rotor.

Have you checked your wheel bearings lately?

 

They arent in the greatest shape. I repacked them and reinstalled them anyways when I did the balljoints. I will probably replace them next week.

Heres what happens... im slowing down, going in a straight line, then suddenly I feel a hard shimmy and a tire locks up and skids. Then as I try to go again, I feel resistance, like trying to drive over a curb. Once it gets going, I feel an even worse shimmy. It only seems to happen under normal braking conditions.. if im REALLY easy on it, I dont feel it.

 

Bump, I really need help with this guys.

 

Then I might suggest trying the suspension board

 

sent a PM. Read and we can move through your probs.

 

Would it be the caliper being stuck on the rotor if the tire locks up when breaking and the car pulls like that? Hitting the brake, tire locks...skids....car pulls....I'd check brakes.

 

well if you just replaced your wheel bearings then you need to make sure that you didnt overtightn um..it makes a difference what the tempiture ouside is and how you pack the bearing..

there is no way in hell that your tie rod would have any thing to do whith the car skidding and such..

 

I dont remember the specs on the nut, but I think I set it to 14 ft/lbs. I knew it wasn't alot, but I've had this problem before I did my ball joints.

But the V8ers are meanies. You guys are like my V6 family.

 

i remember this from the other post you made about it and i said it was either the brakes or wheel bearings then but i believe it was v6 sucker that flogged me and said it was definately the tie rods or front end of sorts :lala:

 

he did not clairfy the "locking" word. Locking up no rotation, wheel bearings, brake system, Hub. Not turning but still rotating you can bet tie rod ends ball joints steering linkage.