A broken tie rod makes it impossible to drive your vehicle. If you are noticing steering problems, clunking noises, or uneven tire wear, then you might have a worn-out tie rod. Don’t delay this

car repair

, as a broken tie rod can be extremely dangerous if it happens while driving.

Your car will run with a worn-out tie rod, so we understand the temptation to just keep driving. But doing so will lead to misalignment, uneven wear and tear, and possibly a broken tie rod while you’re behind the wheel. We wouldn’t wish this dangerous situation on our worst enemies.

Here’s what you need to know about a broken tie rod, including how a tie rod works, how to diagnose the problem, and how much it costs to replace the part.

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How does a tie rod work?

A tie rod connects the steering rack to the steering arm via a steering knuckle or steering linkage. The steering arm is attached to the wheel. Basically, the tie rod works by transmitting rotational motion from your steering wheel to linear motion in your wheels.

The tie rod forces your car to respond to your movements and gives you steering control.

A tie rod includes both an inner tie rod and an outer tie rod, both of which have ball joints. Tie rods are protected with little rubberized plastic seals, which keep out grit and keep in grease for lubrication.

Both the inner and outer tie rods can wear out and need replacement. Tie rod problems are much more common in SUVs and heavier cars, due to the higher load placed on the car’s suspension and steering systems.

There are two types of steering systems. Both systems use tie rods.

The first type is a rack-and-pinion set-up, where a pinion gear rolls along the steering rack. The second type is recirculating ball steering, which uses a Pitman arm and ball bearings to transfer movement. Rack-and-pinion steering is found in most modern vehicles, but you can find recirculating ball steering gears on some trucks and heavy-duty vehicles.

If a tie rod fails, your steering system won’t work properly.

MORE: How to react when your car steering wheel shakes

Common signs you have a bad tie rod

Not sure how to pinpoint the issue? Here are some key symptoms of a bad tie rod end that can help you properly diagnose the problem.

Uneven tire wear

Uneven tire wear or excessive wear may signify that your tires are not aligned, which could be caused by a bad tie rod.

Of course, this may just be a simple misalignment problem. But if you notice uneven tire wear in combination with any of the symptoms below, all signs point to a faulty tie rod.

You went over a bad pothole

This one’s not really a symptom, but did you recently slam through any potholes or curbs?

Potholes are the most common cause of a damaged tie rod. If your vehicle recently suffered an impact due to a pothole, then your tie rods might be damaged. Bring your vehicle to a mechanic if you notice any reduction in performance to get ahead of the problem.

Steering difficulties

Unresponsive steering can be scary! It can also be a red flag that your tie rod ends need some help. Looseness in your steering system can be tricky to diagnose, but if there’s any play in the ball stud portion, then your entire tie rod end must be replaced.

You may notice that your front end is misaligned, too, where your front wheels are not quite in line with the back tires. This results in pulling to one side or the other while driving. The good news is that it’s relatively easy to realign front tires and back tires—unless there’s a worn-out tie rod involved, which must be completely replaced.

Leaky, damaged, or absent rubber boot

Your outer tie rod ends are supposed to be protected with a rubber seal, which keeps in the grease and promotes lubrication. If the boot fails, gunk will get inside and the joint will wear down. Inner tie rods are protected by bellows.

If you’re only lacking a proper seal, then you may be able to fix the problem by getting the tie rod cleaned and replacing the seal.

Clunking noises or squeaking

A clunking sound—especially while turning at low speeds—is a strong indicator that your suspension system or steering system has an issue. Squealing may be a sign of low power steering fluid or a symptom of a bad tie rod.

If you’re hearing unusual noises, get a brakes, steering, and suspension inspection.

Can you drive if your tie rod breaks?

A faulty tie rod is problematic—but a broken tie rod is catastrophic. You cannot drive or control your car if a tie rod breaks. You won’t have any warning that it’s happening until it’s too late.

Tie rod replacement cost

We recommend that car owners start by getting their vehicle’s alignment checked. Then get the vehicle’s steering system carefully inspected by an automotive professional.

You may not need a new tie rod if the part is simply in need of lubrication or new tie rod bushings.

However, if you do need to replace inner or outer tie rod ends, you’re looking at about $200 to $300 in

tie rod end replacement costs

. This process can take a while. The mechanic must raise your vehicle, remove the tire and wheel assembly, remove the tie rod end, and install the new part by torquing the lock nut to the appropriate OEM value. This process usually concludes with an alignment.

Steering rack and gearbox

replacement costs are even higher, with a range between $500 and $1,000 depending on the vehicle’s make and model.

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FAQs

How long can you drive with broken tie rods?

You cannot drive with broken tie rods. You may be able to drive for a short time on worn tie rods, but this is not a viable long-term option. Eventually, the part will break and you’ll need to replace it. If you wait until it breaks at high speed, you’ll be in a dangerous and costly situation. You could even cause damage to other parts of the car, not to mention the damage you could cause to other drivers. It’s best to replace worn-out tie roads as soon as you can afford it.

What happens if a tie rod breaks while driving?

If a tie rod breaks while driving, the wheel will break free of your steering assembly, and you will completely lose control of the vehicle. This could lead to a fatal accident.

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