Tie Rods: What's the easiest way to find out if they are bent? The boot close to the steering rack is torn up pretty bad. The are Moog Tie Rod ends and are only 4 months old, but I'm getting a nasty vibration @ 45-60mph

 

installed properly? if you're positive they were installed properly, i'd check other components and bushings for movement, then balance, and alignment

 

yep...the car was fine, just started vibrating since dday5. didn't know if the torn boot meant anything (or if I should worry about it). I do know the drivers side wheel bearing (up front) has a little play, and I'm replacing that this week. TC rods are leaking now...waiting on tein's.

Charles

 

well ball joint play = vibration...ball joints should have no play. unless a lot of force is applied. Torn boot doesn't mean anything, everyone's 240's boots are falling apart (if its the original rack and pinion.) I'd say check tires, and driveshaft if its still doing it after the TC Rods and ball joint are replaced.

 

If you have some play in the wheel bearing, then that's probably it. Especially since you mentioned that it started after dday5. The S13 chassis is very sensitive to slightly out of whack parts at 45-60mph. I have a pair of 7-spokes with 1-2mm bends, and the car feels like its going to fall apart at 55mph.

 

a bent tie rod wouldnt cause vibration.
it would cause pull.
the best way to see if its bent? look at it?

everything else could potentially cause vibration.
driveshaft, t/c rods, wheel bearings.

you need to realize if this is your daily driver, and you drift at every event, expect to run the car straight into the ground, unless you are constantly maintaining it.

ie: not replacing wheel bearings youve known have been bad for a while.
if you want a car with no vibrations, or noise... leave the s13 at home, and buy a cadillac.

 

Being that Charles is a pretty smart and mature guy I'm sure he understands this 110% before you said anything. No reason to be such a dick about everything.

 

slash +1 on that dick comment

 

im not really being a dick, it just seems like after every event theres a post about "my car is making this noise, or my car is doing this"
it happens.
if you dont want it to happen, leave the car at home.

 

I used to Auto-x My honda and DRIVE IT DAILY. I'm VERY knowledgable with Honda's, but not NISSAN's. I understand the importance of taking care of my car, but to do that, I have understand how it works, and I am not 100% on S13 chaasis's yet, so I ask questions. I don't remember seeing a TC rod on a civic.

So you see, I experience something, I do my research (yes, I did a "search"), and then I ask questions. I than take those responses, apply them by checking things out and replacing what needs to be replaced, and guess what? Problem fixed, and I learned a little more.

And with that, I am ordering a new front wheel bearing this morning which I will be replacing on Thursday (yes....I'm gonna do it myself). I'm still looking for a set of used adj TC rods.

But thank you everybody for the tips. I'm still curious about the driveshaft bearing. I'll have the car on a lift thursday, what's a good way to check it?

Knowledge is wonderful, isn't it?

Charles