Does anyone have advice on the best brand of tie rod end? I think the car came from Spring Hill with MOOG, but many shops don't lube the zerk fitting so it doesn't last as long as it should. Right now, when I turn the steering wheel left more than 1/8 turn at freeway speed, I feel like I'm going to lose control and crash. So I gently let the car drift halfway into the lane to the right of me as I hit the brakes. Obviously this is not safe. Someone might be using the right lane, and I will hit them. So right now I am staying off the freeway.

My arms are not as strong as they used to be, but I just locked the steering wheel in my driveway, removed the key, jacked the front end up, and I WAS able to move the RF tire (but not the LF). My hands were at the front and back of the tire (9:00 and 3:00, I guess you could say). I replaced both outer tie rod ends when I bought the car in June 2015 (134,800 miles). I think I used MOOG. Now, I am up to 175,800 miles. I believe the stresses of turning at speed caused the RF toe to go outward, just like when I moved the tire in my driveway an hour ago. When the alignment changed, I panicked. I KNOW if I ask the front wheels to turn too much with FWD, the front tires will lose traction. The front of the car will not turn as much as I had hoped, and I will skid off the road. It happened with that heavy FWD Cutlass Ciera years ago. And that's why I let the Saturn drift into the next lane to the right while reducing speed. (There are no problems when I turn left.)

(Turning the steering wheel too much at too high a speed with FWD will not result in the "Dukes of Hazzard" maneuver where the rear end whips around. That only works for RWD, and Hollywood stunt drivers who can do that SAFELY. It is nothing I will ever need to do in my lifetime.)

Isn't MOOG supposed to last forever, if you grease the fitting at least at every 3,000 mile oil change? Has their quality declined, like so many brands? How many times did I or the shop forget to lube it? Any advice on which brand to choose this time around?

Thanks!

 

The tie rod ends on my 95 SC2 are the originals from the factory. Therefore I don't have a replacement recommendation for you. I suggest looking at RockAuto and getting one of the daily driver level outer tie rod ends.

I am a bit confused as to how a 1/8 rotation of the steering wheel in one direction can push your car into the next lane. How loose is the wheel when you pull at 9:00 and 3:00?

 

I ordered that as a kit. They are cheaper for sure. The last set of " cheap" control arms I bought didnt even last 50k miles. I get the control arms arent the same as the tie rod ends, but i am guessing cheaper ones just wear out faster. These tie rod ends DO have zerks.