How to Buy the Right Tie Rod Ends

DIY

Suspension & Steering

Mike Bumbeck

April 22, 2026

6 min read

Mike Bumbeck

April 22, 2026

6 min read

Left and right tie rods - opens in new window or tab. connect the recirculating ball gearbox and idler arm (or rack and pinion) to the steering knuckles on the wheels. Each tie rod assembly uses an inner and outer tie rod end—connected by a threaded adjustment sleeve—to adjust wheel toe alignment.

The tie-rod end - opens in new window or tab. uses a ball-and-socket joint—much like ball joints, pitman arms, some sway bar end links, and your hip bone. The spherical ball stud is captured in a lubricated socket. That socket is topped with a dust boot to keep grease in and crud out.

As tie rod ends wear, the ball gets loose in the socket. Be wary: Severely worn tie rod ends can fail suddenly. When they do, they can cause potentially catastrophic loss of steering control.

A close-up view of two tie-rod ends, displayed on a textured black background. — A new pair of tie rod ends.

Checking for tie rod end wear is the first step to finding the right replacement part for the job. The symptoms of bad tie rod ends are steering wheel play or shimmy, clunking noises, tire edge wear, and wandering while driving. These can be easy to misdiagnose. Those same symptoms can also result from an out-of-balance wheel and tire, worn-out wheel bearing, or rattling sway bar end link.

If you discover broken or missing dust/grease boots or clunky tie rod ball-and-socket connections, get ready to remove and replace those tie rod end links. Our DIY video and step-by-step article - opens in new window or tab. will guide you through the process.

Two Types of Tie Rod Ends

A set of inner and outer tie rods for 1963-1964 full-size Chevrolet Bel Air, and Biscayne and Impala, displayed on a white background. — This set of inner and outer tie rods is designed specifically for full-size 1963-1964 Chevrolets.

Tie rod ends fall into two categories: inner and outer.

Most steering systems with two tie rods use four tie rod ends. Two inner and two outer. The ins and outs of tie rod end configurations vary. Some conventional or parallelogram steering systems might have an idler arm - opens in new window or tab. with captured ends and dust boots. Others use two ends on one adjustment sleeve.

In rack and pinion steering systems, inner tie rod ends and dust boots differ from the outers. The inners mount into the horizontal rack while the outers link up the steering knuckle. That puts the outers at a sharper angle. They also often incorporate a built-in threaded sleeve. Inner or outer tie rods of every kind might appear the same, but mind the direction of the left- or right-hand thread. That’s not a mistake you make twice.

Some aftermarket high-performance, exotic, 4x4, or motorsports vehicles use a different kind of ball and socket end called a heim joint. It can also be called a rod end bearing or rose joint, depending on where you drive. The rod end bearing was developed in World War II for use on fighter aircraft and found its way into automotive use in the 1950s. A through-bolt design gives the rod end a mounting angle advantage for custom or racing applications. Heim joints offer the last word in stiffness and response, which is great for race cars. They wear out on the street, where bumps and potholes make them more annoying than beneficial.

How do you find tie rod ends that fit your car?

Finding the right tie rod ends for everything from your everyday minivan to a weekend side-by-side starts with plugging in its year, make, model, engine, and trim into the eBay Parts Finder - opens in new window or tab.. Search within the steering and suspension category. From there you can drill down to tie rod ends and steering linkages to find parts from original equipment OEM and aftermarket high-performance upgrades.

Is buying an OEM tie rod end a good idea?

Yes. Aftermarket parts range from economy stock replacement grade to an improvement over the original specification. Go with AC Delco, Mopar, or Motorcraft.

As for the aftermarket, consider Moog and Mevotech for a selection of parts lines from daily driver to heavy duty. Check out Cognito or Rough Country if you’ve lifted or modified your 4x4.

What Tie Rod Ends Should Cost

A set of chrome tie-rod ends, displayed on a white background. — While chrome tie rod ends look cool, unless you’re displaying a show car with mirrors underneath the front-end (or have an old-school hot rod), no one will see them.

If you're lucky or deliberate enough to catch a broken boot before road salt and sharp sand ruin the ball and socket, a replacement boot is the low-cost save. You don’t need a re-alignment if you are just popping out a tie rod end and swapping in a new boot. Few among us have been so lucky.

Outer tie rod ends typically wear out sooner than the inners. The outers are close to the road and are exposed to relentless elements and unforeseen projectiles. Now, you can replace a single bad outer tie-rod end, but chances are good the other outer is right behind it. Replacing tie rod ends in pairs is inexpensive insurance.

These are cheap parts. Even the nice OEM tie rod ends are around $20 or $30. Just don’t forget to account for the requisite trip to the alignment shop as well.

It’s a good idea to inspect related wear parts like ball joints, sway bar end links, pitman and idler arms, as well as all the bushings from the rack and pinion to the control arms.

Should you buy a kit?

Companies like Detroit Axle offer a range of equipment groups, from control arm ball joint and tie rod packages to complete front-end kits - opens in new window or tab.. A package deal can save money and time.

There are a few other things to note. Urethane boots can endure longer than conventional rubber. Also, a single boot or ball-and-socket is cheaper than an idler arm with built-in tie rod ends.

Parts and Accessories Related to Tie Rod Ends

A five-piece front end service kit with pitman arm, ball joint, and tie rod pullers in a red plastic case, displayed on a white background. — This five-piece front end service kit includes pitman arm, ball joint, and tie rod pullers.

Along with the requisite jack and jack stands and automotive safety gear, you might want to spring for a front-end service kit - opens in new window or tab.. They come with a selection of pitman arm, ball joint, and tie rod end pullers. That can beat a bunch of short-handled sledge hammers and pickle forks - opens in new window or tab.. DIY alignment isn’t a beginner job, but it’s worth mentioning the tools you’d need for it. They range from a set of jack stands, a tape measure, and a spool of string to more sophisticated wheel-mounted setups.

Do tie rod ends come greased for life?

Some do, and some don’t. A grease gun and zerk fitting assortment with 45-degree and right-angled options is an investment in the future. Check with the parts manufacturer for the best type of grease. Inspecting your steering and suspension and greasing up the tie rod ends, ball, joints, and anything else with a zerk fitting at least once a year can extend the life of you and your vehicle.

About the author

Mike Bumbeck

Mike has written about vintage automobiles and the people behind them for more than two decades. His experience includes writing for Hot Rod, Hemmings, and Mecum Auctions—and working on the pit crew of a nostalgia top fuel dragster. He lives in New England with a multi-vehicle fleet that ranges from a contemporary front-wheel-drive turbo hatchback to vintage Japanese 4x4s. His hobbies include building, flying, and crashing remote control scale model airplanes.

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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.