How Much Does A Tie Rod Replacement Cost? – A Complete Guide

30 Jun.,2025

 

How Much Does A Tie Rod Replacement Cost? – A Complete Guide

3 Other Parts Related To Tie Rod Replacement

Often, a tie rod can fail due to the malfunctioning of related components. Furthermore, driving long on bad tie rods can also damage the other components. In such a case, if the problem is not isolated to tie rods, you might have to carry out additional check-ups and repairs. Some parts that are related to tie rods and might need a replacement are as follows:

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A. Steering Rack Assembly

The steering rack assembly or the rack and pinion gearbox converts the rotary motion from the steering wheel and turns it into a lateral motion. The steering rack is connected to the inner tie rod, which transfers this lateral motion to the outer tie rod to turn the wheels. A bad inner tie rod end can be a cause of a faulty steering rack and if the steering rack assembly is damaged, the cost of steering rack assembly can range from $100 to $.

B. Steering Knuckle

The outer tie rods are attached to the steering knuckle, which is the last part of the steering system of the vehicle. The steering knuckle and the tie rods can get damaged at the same time if you hit a large pothole. For a steering knuckle replacement, the cost can be $150 – $700, excluding labor.

C. End nuts

The tie rod end nuts connect the tie rods to the steering knuckle and are also known as castle nuts. These nuts can crack and break due to prolonged exposure to road elements and wear. The cost of replacing end nuts is very cheap and you get them for $5-$15. You might have to purchase end nuts separately because not all tie rod kits come with these nuts. Always check the list of parts included before ordering replacement tie rods.

Apart from the cost of tie rod end replacement, you might also have to pay for wheel alignment. It has to be done every time you replace your tie rods and the cost of wheel alignment can vary between $100 to $150, depending on the vehicle and workshop.

8 FAQs

How Long Do Tie Rods Last?

Tie rods are an important component of a vehicle’s steering system. They are attached on both ends of the steering rack and help move the wheels. Tie rods can last for years and years and some car owners may never have to replace them at all, but their longevity can be affected by certain driving conditions. Driving obstacles like potholes, poor road conditions or even minor accidents can cause tie rods to work incorrectly.

The lifespan of tie rods can vary depending on driving conditions and vehicle maintenance. Typically, tie rods last between 70,000 to 100,000 miles. If you suspect your tie rods might be bad, there are a few simple checks that mechanics can make to see if there’s any excess movement in the tie rods where there shouldn’t be.

It’s recommended that both right and left sets of tie rods be replaced at the same time, and that a full four-wheel vehicle alignment be done once they’ve been changed.

What Happens When a Tie Rod Breaks?

When a tie rod breaks, it can cause the front wheels of your vehicle to become unstable and difficult to control. This can be especially dangerous if you’re driving at high speeds or on a busy road. According to Your Motor Fix, a broken tie rod can cause your tire to flop to one side, making it impossible to steer your car.

If you suspect that your tie rod has broken, it’s important to get your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible. A mechanic can perform a few simple checks to see if there’s any excess movement in the tie rods where there shouldn’t be.

How Long Can You Drive on a Bad Tie Rod?

If you suspect that your tie rod is bad, it’s important to get your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible. You should not drive your car with a bad tie rod for more than 10 to 20 miles before repair. Severely worn tie rods risk complete failure of the tie rod joint while driving, causing loss of steering control. Even slightly bent tie rods will worsen over time, rapidly wearing tires and damaging steering.

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Steering Rack?

The cost of replacing a steering rack can vary depending on the type of vehicle, the parts’ scarcity, and the quality. The average cost of replacing a steering rack on a mainstream vehicle is between $400 and $750, including an alignment. The bulk of this cost is attributed to labor, which typically tallies up to a total of 2-3 hours, with another hour of labor billed for subsequent alignment.

How Long Does it Take to Fix a Tie Rod?

The time it takes to fix a tie rod can vary depending on the vehicle and the mechanic. Experienced professionals only take an hour to change a tie rod, but this doesn’t include performing vehicle alignment. That’s why it will take at least three to four hours overall. If you’re replacing your tie rods yourself without alignment included, you’ll need 2 to 12 hours, depending on your level of expertise.

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How Does a Tie Rod Break?

Tie rods are an important component of a vehicle’s steering system. They are attached on both ends of the steering rack and help move the wheels. Tie rods can break due to normal wear and tear, driving hazards such as potholes, rough road conditions, or even minor accidents.

According to Motor Verso, tie rods can fail due to insufficient lubrication, which can cause the tie rod end to wear out faster. When a tie rod is damaged and fails, the effects can range from mild (early tire wear) to extreme (loss of vehicle control).

How Much Does it Cost to Replace Tie Rod Ends?

The cost of replacing a tie rod end can vary depending on the vehicle, the quality of the parts that are utilized, and how difficult it is to get to the tie rod end. It can cost anywhere from $100 to $400 to replace a tie rod end.

How Many Tie Rods on a Car?

The number of tie rods on a car can vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle. According to Rx Mechanic, most vehicles have four tie rods. Two tie rods are located on each front wheel, with each wheel having an inner and outer tie rod.

How Much Does a Front-End Replacement Cost?

The cost of replacing the front end of a vehicle can vary depending on the extent of the damage, the type of vehicle, and the quality of parts used. According to Phil Long Collision Center, the average cost of repairing front-end damage on a vehicle ranges from $200 to $2,000. The cost of repairing a dented bumper can range from $400 to $1,500.

What Happens When Your Tie Rods are Bad?

When tie rods are bad, they can cause a variety of issues with your vehicle’s steering and handling. According to Mechanic Base, here are some symptoms of a bad tie rod:

  1. Uneven tire wear
  2. Lack of steering responsiveness
  3. Bad wheel alignment
  4. Car pulls to one side
  5. Vibration
  6. Strange noises, especially while steering

If you suspect that your tie rods are bad, it’s important to get your vehicle to a mechanic as soon as possible

How often to Replace Tie Rods?

The frequency of replacing tie rods can vary depending on the make and model of the vehicle, driving conditions, and maintenance. According to Jerry, most vehicle manufacturers recommend having your tie rods checked every 15,000 miles to ensure they’re in good working condition. However, if you drive your vehicle on rough roads frequently or in harsh weather a lot, chances are your tie rods will degrade faster than if you did a lot of smooth driving.

Tie Rod vs. just the end - Itinerant Air-Cooled

Tie Rod vs. just the end

  • Quote

Post by Kubelwagen » Thu Jun 21, 5:50 pm

So, I see that Bus Depot sells both the ends as well as the whole tie rod. At first blush, it seems a better choice to get the Made in Germany whole meal deal. Anybody have any experience with this? Seems like getting them on and off the original equipment might be a trick. Patience the 81 Adventurewagen

Re: Tie Rod vs. just the end

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Post by SlowLane » Thu Jun 21, 7:53 pm

Well, if you don't need the inner end, there's not much point in buying the entire rod.

Meyle brand? Not sure. I've heard they can be so-so on quality. '81 Canadian Westfalia (2.0L, manual), now Californiated

"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."
- Terry Pratchett

Re: Tie Rod vs. just the end

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Post by ruckman101 » Fri Jun 22, 12:26 am

Didn't do the rods, just the ends, and still had to address the ball joints. Mehles. A task that takes a fortitude of aggression. Timidity only drags out the task. Ball joints? uh uh. I hired a professional. Along with the alignment after the fact.

Haven't tackled a bus yet, that was on Gretchen Ghia.



neal The slipper has no teeth.

Re: Tie Rod vs. just the end

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Post by SlowLane » Fri Jun 22, 8:17 pm

Perhaps I should expand on this.

Vanagons have rack-and-pinion steering. The inner tie-rod ends for such systems are integral with the tie-rod itself. The rod terminates in a ball that is socketed into a swivel piece (can't think of a better term for it). The swivel piece has a threaded stud that screws into the end of the rack and is typically held in place by bending or peening over a tang.

The outer tie rod end is the same construction as what is used on earlier VWs.

So the short answer is: if your inner tie rod ends are not sloppy, then you should only need to replace the outers. If the inners are sloppy, then you need to buy either the tie rod itself or the whole assembly. Since outer tie-rod ends are more likely to wear out than inners, it's probably prudent to replace them both if the inners are worn. '81 Canadian Westfalia (2.0L, manual), now Californiated

"They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but it is not one half so bad as a lot of ignorance."
- Terry Pratchett

Re: Tie Rod vs. just the end

  • Quote

Post by Kubelwagen » Sat Jun 23, 10:54 am

Thanks that helps! The steering feels OK, I just put new tires on and it was feeling a little "light" coming home from Maupin, so I dropped 5 lbs out of each front tire (they were a little high), but I haven't had a chance to try for any distance since.

I'm thinking on doing both ends as the boots on the inner are torn on one side. It's only money, right? :) Patience the 81 Adventurewagen

Re: Tie Rod vs. just the end

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Post by vdubyah73 » Sat Jun 23, 11:56 am

with tie rods, it will cost you whether you fix em or not. it can cost anything from a pair of new shorts to your life. i was riding in a 67 camaro when 1 let go. it let go with a noise/feeling that was obviously very wrong, foundation wrong. first thing driver did was hit brakes, also very wrong. hitting brakes makes front wheels go like this \←→/ the car then does something completely WTF wrong. it starts dodging right and left at a high frequency, lunging back and forth.....violently. we were approaching an underpass, semi was oncoming, 45 mph, 2 lane straight road.


it was the right tie rod, praise the Lord. the girl driving instictively turned right, away from the truck, no brakes on after violent ride, left wheel still steers, she wrestled it back and the car started scuffing right and we stopped. i remember it vividly. funny thing, after that poop yer pants scare, we figured we could limp a mile to k:@h's boneyard, operated by scary bikers, these guys were in the news kinda guys, if you know what i mean. they were good to kids with no money and old cars. anyway you can go forward as long as you don't hit the brakes, at all. broken side will follow good side. backing up takes a lot of tire kicking. 1/20/ end of an error
never owned a gun. have fired a few.