How does an inner tie rod go bad? I don't mean bent. How does it get play/looseness in it-since it is attached at both ends by a threaded couplings. Trying to get the car to pass inspection-they may have a little movement-Pennsylvania *private* inspections fail for everything-even if its marginal!!
Thanks

20 years of use will do it...

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1986 SE 350 V8

It's the ball joint on the end of it. It becomes worn and gets loose with time.

The inner tie rod is actually a tie rod & ball joint assembly--the ball joint housing is threaded and screws on to the rack end, and the tie rod extends out from the inner ball joint to the outer tie rod end.

The inner ball joint is subject to wear just like any other ball joint, especially if the rack boots are allowing moisture and/or dirt to get in there.

do you think another 20 bucks would get you to pass ???

This one is simple...It goes bad because it was made by a car manufacturer. All parts are made to fall apart sooneer than later so you have to buy new cars all the time! That's how they get us!!!

Most often it's caused by the boots getting split and the grease getting thrown out, which allows dirt and other contaminants to enter and grind it somewhat like sandpaper. Of course they can just wear out due to high mileage. Metal to metal.....everything wears out eventually. Good luck and peace.

Phil

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I am always available to help those that need help. Since my back injury, I cannot work on many of the aspects of the cars, but I can offer the knowledge of my 27 years as a GM technician. Bring the questions on................!

quote Originally posted by GTDude: Most often it's caused by the boots getting split and the grease getting thrown out, which allows dirt and other contaminants to enter and grind it somewhat like sandpaper. Of course they can just wear out due to high mileage. Metal to metal.....everything wears out eventually. Good luck and peace. Phil

Youd think a gm tech could know the difference between a cv shaft and a tie rod. The tie rod is not throwing grease anywhere, thats the cv shaft boot. The tie rod ends can wear out, and they are greasable, but the grease isnt getting slung anywhere It may squish out. The fact is that you may have to replace them ( take them out clean them and spray paint them chasis black and take it back and say you had them replaced). If there is wear in them you may want to replace them as the geometry of your suspension changes when the tire goes up and down and the tie rods help keep it straight.

grease also gets washed out over time if you "mistreat" your fiero and drive in the rain or thru puddles. The salt water they are using on the roads in the winter here really tears them up. Best thing to do is to keep them greased and when you do grease them pump enough grease thru them to flush out the old grease

well i was wondering if u have the inner tier od boot was ripped ... can u just replace the boot? (now i'm talking about the rear one...i'm pretty sure its a tie rod end) ..thanks
Matt

If you need some help getting the things changed let me know. There are more than a few of Fiero owners right near you.

I'm right up the road from you.

88Ironduke

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Pilots with out maintainers are just pedestrians with a cool jacket and sunglasses.
I.Y.A.M.Y.A.S.

Thanks everyone--I didn't realize there was a balljoint component to the inner tie rod that could loosen up-thought it was a solid threaded rod!!

It will take more than $20 to get to pass inspection but once I get this done the car should be good to go--I've invested several hundred dollars on stuff (front balljoints, bolts, bushings, all the rotors & brakes, s/s caliper lines, shocks, exhaust manifold) but its worth it. I love Fieros, the car has always treated me right (on 9+ years of ownership, >180,00 miles on the odometer) and most of all--the money I have spent on my car is still less than the tax I would have paid on a new car, plus additional insurance coverage, plus I learned some stuff along the way.

Also, I just have to get the **** parking brake 100% for inspection as well-needs some fine tuning!

HMMMMMmmmmmmmmm, let's see if this sheds any light on the situation.
If you were to NEVER drive your Fiero, the parts, (all of the parts that make up a complete car)
would never be stressed, therefore the parts would never wear out.

But since you do drive your car, you are stressing all the parts, therefore all the parts will wear, no part on any car is exempt from this.