Steering Arms, Tie Rods & Links

Steering arms, links, tie rods, and related components, collectively known as steering linkage, connect the steering gear to the steering knuckles and front wheels, converting steering wheel and steering gear movement into the turning motion that steers the vehicle in the direction intended by the driver. The steering linkage varies according to the type of steering gear. Vehicles with rack & pinion steering gear have the simplest steering linkage with just tie rod assemblies connecting the rack to the steering knuckles.

The parallelogram steering linkage, which is found on most vehicles with conventional worm gear recirculating ball steering boxes, consists of a sector shaft mounted Pitman arm attached to a center link, which is supported at the other end by the idler arm. The tie rod assemblies are attached to each end of the center link and to the steering arms at the knuckles. Some trucks and vans with steering boxes use cross steer or Haltenberger steering linkage, which also employ Pitman arms and have linkage that includes long adjustable linkage rods.

Steering linkage components are connected with small ball joints. In these connections there is a ball stud in a socket in one linkage member, with the stud inserted into a tapered bore in the other linkage member and secured with a nut. A rubber boot encloses the socket to protect it from dirt and retain lubricant. The ball joints allow the linkage to move side-to-side to turn the knuckles and wheels and move up and down as the suspension reacts to the road. While some linkage ball joints are equipped with grease fittings for lubrication, most are “lubed for life” at the factory and cannot be lubricated during vehicle maintenance. The exception to the above type of joint is the rack & pinion inner tie rod end. Instead of a ball stud, the inner tie rod end projects from and pivots on the tie rod end socket, which is threaded onto the end of the rack.

Excessive free-play and looseness due to wear are the most common steering linkage defects, but obvious damage like cracked or torn ball joint dust boots and rack & pinion bellows also require component replacement. Check for play by having an assistant turn the steering wheel back and forth with the wheels on the ground while you inspect the steering system. The entire system should be checked for excessive movement including the steering column u-joints, coupler, steering box or rack & pinion housing mounting, as well as the steering gear adjustment.

If the rest of the system checks out, concentrate on the steering linkage, checking for looseness in the ball stud sockets and ball stud/tapered bore junctions, the idler arm bushings, and the tie rod adjusting sleeves. To check rack & pinion inner tie rod ends, grasp the front and rear of each tire and move the tire back and forth. Because the inner tie rod ends are concealed by the rack bellows, rubber bellows can be squeezed and play in the socket felt for by hand as the tire is moved. But if the vehicle is equipped with hard plastic bellows, the bellows clamps must be removed, and the bellows pulled back for inner tie rod inspection.

Excessive play and looseness in any steering linkage component is cause for replacement. No matter what your repair or upgrade needs are or what you’re working on, we have the steering arms, links, tie rods and related components to restore safe, predictable, and easy steering system operation. We offer steering linkage components that are manufactured to original equipment specifications, so when repairs are completed you can count on the steering performance your vehicle was designed to deliver. In addition to the above, we can supply you with center links, drag links, idler arms and idler arm bushings and brackets, Pitman arms, and tie rod adjusting sleeves and center studs, as well as rebuild or repair kits for some linkage components.