2001 Grand Caravan with 143K. the steering rack has never been replaced. Car has been driven mainly in the city and highway. I verified this myself with Firestone. One of us rocked the tire side to side while I put my hand on the upper part of the inner tie rod and could feel the clicking. So my concern is that they were just replaced 11k ago, and about 1 1/2 yr ago, but not by Firestone. So why would they wear out so soon? Poor quality parts? After the inner tie rods and link arms were replaced it was aligned. It doesn't pull or shake?? So probably have to take off boots and check myself. Going to call Shop that did the work and find out what brand of inner tie rods were used?

Any suggestions on what brand of inner tie rod to use? I was thinking about using a Moog EV405 inner tie rod??

Any suggestions on what might cause this premature failure of the inner tie rods. Again still not sure if its the rods or the steering rack that has the wear. Any suggestions without taking the inner tie rod boots off how to verify if the steering rack is bad or just the inner tie rods?

Thanks

 

I see outers go bad so often it makes my head hurt but I can't remember the last inner I did. Either your getting some junk parts or the people putting them in are doing it wrong.

 

Tizzy thanks for replying. That's my thinking also. Did you see the one I posted on the brakes causing my rattling noise at slow speeds? Turned out to be Firestone removed the sleeves on the lower caliper slides.

Well now after driving the car for about 15 miles one of the radiator fans broke apart put a hole in the radiator. Murphy's law. So with 143K going to replace both, with new radiator, pump, and thermostat. Radiator was only 1 1/2 old.

 

Not shocking me. Do you have the fans that are separate, meaning 2 fans, each in it's own shroud?

 

Yes. Lucked out the radiator supplier replaced for free. Merry xmas to me.

 

I have a pair of fans if your interested, slightly used of course.

 

thanks Tizzy, but already have them coming from Amazon.