Had some vibration on smooth roads so I put it on stands and found this mess.
Holy crap. I'm on stock suspension and don't beat my car up, so I'm wondering what on earth would cause this at only 56k miles.
Passenger side

Driver side


So far I've only found stock Ford outer tie rod ends. I'm looking at Maximum Motorsport's bumpsteer kit.

My only question is a bumpsteer kit worth the money if I'm not lowered?

I'm not too knowledgeable on suspension so the only reason I ask is because when turning and going over a bump, the steering wants to go toward the outside of the turn instead of tracking in the direction I am traveling in and it's not from the solid axle unsettling.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

That looks like abrasion damage to me. Do you drive on dirty or sandy roads a lot, maybe in a five mile long construction zone you drive through every day at 60MPH? They don't look melted, but they do look like they must be replaced.

 

Wow - I have 189,000 miles on mine and they don't look like that!

 

The cheap rubber boots Ford uses deteriorate quickly. Mine looked like that after only 45k miles, I replaced mine with Moog tie rod ends and got a front end alignment.

 

I'm not saying that yours aren't worn out, but the boots being torn doesn't automatically mean that the actual joint is toast. Likely? Yes, and certainly on their way out once dirt starts getting in there, but not definitely toast. I would put the wheel back on and wiggle it with the car jacked up just to make sure that's where your slop is coming from.

 

Thanks for the input guys!
Not wanting to chance dirt contaminatiing inside them, I bought new OEM parts. Someone else answered my question about bumpsteer kits.

For future reference in case anyone uses the search function for this...

Tie Rod Ends: Motorcraft part # 4R3Z-3A130-AB/ Description: End-Spindle

Both sides are the same.

 

Are you going to change them yourself or have it done by an alignment shop? I did it myself on my Vette last winter. It's pretty tricky to get the wheel aligned properly (so the wheel is straight while the car heads down the road) and the toe back to where it should be. Takes a lot of iterations of: adjust, drive, measure, adjust, drive, measure. Probably a lot quicker to just have it done by a good alignment shop.

 

I'm going to change them out myself and then have the alignment checked by a local shop. Should take no more than 10 mins per side.

 

Mine needed to be replaced at about the same mileage. No you will not need a bumpsteer kit with the stock suspension. But if you get the Steeda ball joints to replace your stock ones it will really help you get your alignment back. They're made to work together and just ball joints will give you an extremely pidgeon toed tire screaming drive.

 

Just curious if these are an upgrade to the stock Ford ones. My tie rods look a little worse than OP and I think my suspension clunk is coming from there. I figure if I get stock this will just keep happening.

Moog ES80805.


http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...MOES80805.html