Significance

• Tie rods are a vital part of an automobile's front end, and can cause serious steering problems when they wear out.
  
  

Diagnosis

• The following are common signs of worn-out tie rods: difficulty steering the car, clunking noises, the steering wheel is not centered anymore, the vehicle pulls to one side more than the other.
  
  

Causes

• Road conditions such as potholes and bumps are the main contributors to wearing out a car's front end suspension components, which includes the tie rods.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• According to Advance Auto Parts, tie rods are easy to replace on most vehicles yourself.
  
  

Considerations

• Tie rod replacement can take between one and three hours, and you have the potential of saving up to $180 by doing the job yourself.