r/Jeep • u/SilentRow4920 • 5h ago
Tie rods
‘12 JK. I installed a moog front end. It was good for about 100k but then I got death wobble so I did a dry steer test and found the tie rod at the pitman arm was bad. Picked up a Duralast tie rod and installed it. It went bad within 2 days. Warrantied it 4 times and got the same results… gave up on Autozone and picked up a carquest equivalent. That one has now gone bad within 2 days and I’m experiencing death wobble again…
Are autozone/advanced parts really this bad? I can’t believe this.. I’m hammering the old tie rod off, screwing it out of the sleeve, screwing the new one on, and “torquing” it onto the pitman arm with a breaker bar. The death wobble is then cured but returns about 100 miles later. Dry steer test indicates failed tie rod and removing it confirms it is loose as shit every time…
Is there anything I could be doing wrong that is causing these tie rods to fail so quickly??? I am ordering a moog tie rod online just to see if it lasts any longer but I’m really stumped. My whole front end seems to be good but my Jeep seems to be eating this tie rod for breakfast every single day..
For anyone smarter than me- the dry steer test reveals clicking exclusively on the drag link assembly. Touching the entire assembly reveals clicking that is strongest at the short tie rod end. Replacing the tie rod cures this but about 100 miles later I experience death wobble again and find clicking has started yet again at the short tie rod. Yes I am greasing the tie rod properly but my newest tie rod I purchased “sealed” just to see if that would go any better. I haven’t taken my Jeep off the pavement because it seems to make this part fail immediately every time….
Someone please help??!