Are my outer tie rod ends worn?

Does this movement suggest it’s time for replacement?

https://youtu.be/Lj5SDJyk2M4

I ask because I have terrible luck getting my Goodyear Duratracs balanced for free at Discount Tire. The techs are very accommodating and try multiple times until it’s as good as possible. Unfortunately, I get the shudders at 60+ despite various balancing methods including a lug adapter on the machine rather than hub-centric balancing.

https://youtu.be/2cieoATORok

I am told Taco’s are very finicky, especially when outside of stock specs (265/75/16). Mickey Thompson Baja II wheels, 16x8 0mm offset.

After three attempts, the manager told me we may just need to replace the tires as they could be defective. I like free tires as much as the next guy, but I’m doing my best to make sure my 110k truck isn’t causing the shudders.

Before replacing the Duratracs, I switched lug nuts from regular taper style to ET style. Now I am looking at outer tie rods because the tire guy said they shouldn’t move so easy.



I’m just trying to do the right thing, and I don’t want to cause unnecessary wear by not being diligent.

I really like the performance of these tires. I have done a lot of research post-purchase and many people have problems balancing with wear. Mine have 10k on them.

Ultimately this type of shudder isn’t acceptable even though I’ve got “off road” components. Cruising at 70 is a bit sketchy. What’s weird is the very first time they were mounted they rode flawless. The only time the shudders show is after re-balance and free rotation.

 

Have you tried a different tire shop? Would be good to rule that out. I have had alignments and rebalance and had them make it worse and had to go back and make them do it again. I have heard guys mention they never put the weights on or some fell off.

 

I would be willing to try.

It’s just odd because I’ve balanced tires myself before and they allowed me to watch every attempt. They don’t seem to be doing anything wrong. It’s gotten to the point they pretty much try anything we can come up with.

I read up on the Haweka Adapter, road force balancing. Different method just seem to change the speed at which the shudders show up.

 

I dont think that movement of the tie rod is super relevant. When you turn the tire... does the tie rod move first then kinda clunk when it finally makes contact to turn the spindle? That's typically the play you dont want and would signify tie rod replacement. Check the ball joints too on upper and lower control arms. Could be just needing a road force balance and make sure those lug nuts are torqued to 83 to 86 lbs

 

No indication any ball joints are bad. One front tire reads a road force of 8, another 20. I don’t know what unit of measurement is used with those numbers. Basically I was told 8 is pretty good and 20 isn’t bad considering the aggressiveness of the tire. I am going to Jack the truck up and do a thorough check of all steering components and I’ll retorque the wheels while I’m at it.

I’m still learning how to identify failing components.

 

When the front is jacked up. Grab the tire and turn it if the tire/rim move that direction then kinda clunk (play) then the rack n pinion turns. The tie rod should be replaced.

 

Changing lug nuts as you did shouldn't make any difference. The newer ones you went to still seat on the conical section of the nut. The extra length is there in case you need more "reach" to access enough threads on the studs. They're most commonly used with relatively thin spacers.

 

Need more info. Do a video with the front jacked up and try shaking the tire side to side by grabbing it at the 9oclock and 3oclock position.

 

Yes this

 

Duratrac's are known to be tough to balance on tacoma's. I've heard of people swapping out multiple new tires until they got one that would balance.

Good luck.

 

like stated duratracs have been known to be a really shitty tire to have to balance.

Tierods are supposed to be able to move like that. The slop you need to look for is in and out not a twisting motion like in your video.

 

"Duratracs are known to be tough to balance on Tacomas". I hear Ya, but that really seems odd, any properly balanced tire, that doesn't "bounce" on the balancing machine, a Nissan Frontier, or a Ford Ranger, what would make it want to bounce on a Tacoma? Really doesn't seem reasonable

 

Do some research and you'll see it's reality. Not sure if that's reasonable or not.

 

Duratracs just suck to balance, ive always had a slight shimmy around 70 with them. Front balanced alright 4 ounces on one and 8 on another, LR has 23 and the RR has somewhere close to 40 or something lmao. These outer tie rods on these trucks are pretty sound also, mine have both had blown boots for like 35k and they are still good sooo

 

Sorry, I didn't mean to say it wasn't true, I was just hoping someone would have some input on how the Tacoma front suspension would want to make the rotating mass of the wheel & tire bounce up & down, when it doesn't bounce up & down on the machine or other vehicles. It may be like the Firestone ATX tires on the Ford Explorers, back in the late 90's. Ford blamed Firestone & Firestone blamed Ford. The Ford Explorers were fine with any other tire, & the Firestone ATX tires were fine on any other vehicle. That also didn't seem reasonable, but something was different. Same with the Tacoma & the Duratrac, Just wondering how the Taco was different?

 

I don’t understand either. Suspension and steering of these tucks seems par for the course, not sure why it would be so sensitive. Hub centric vs. lug centric is understandable, but it’s not that.

 

I've heard of people running out of room to add more weights.

One of the reasons I stayed away from Duratrac's and went with Cooper's.

 

Other than balancing they are pretty damn good tires.

 

I 2nd...3rd...4th and 5th the notion on Duratrac's being a real turd to balance. Never again....went through several tires. Before giving up GY DT's.

 

My truck is super sensitive to bolting on tires/ wheels even when they are properly balanced. If they are put on with a pneumatic gun, I always get a wobble at higher speeds. I tighten to 30, then 60, then 90 foot pounds using a standard star pattern. This usually does it. I loosen my lugs and re-tighten them myself any time a shop pulls the wheels off and puts them back on.