Which tie rod ends are best to choose for domestic cars?

Any vehicle needs not only a working engine, brake system and fuel supply system, but also a steering system. It consists of several components, each of which is worth knowing about for a responsible car enthusiast. We will talk about the tie rod end - that same element of the steering mechanism that, regardless of its design, is always present. Let’s figure out how the steering tip is designed, how to choose it correctly, which companies offer the best spare parts in the “Steering” category, and also what you need to consider when choosing so as not to buy a fake.

Functions and device

The automotive steering tip is designed to properly transfer force from one control mechanism to another. Since the force is determined by a translational movement, and the angle between each part should not change too much, the tip is made in the form of several hinges . Usually there are 4 of them, however, in some designs there may be 6 of them. The tip includes the following elements:

• The housing containing the axle;
• A pin (in the driver's environment - a finger) with a thread;
• Teflon gasket along which the pin will move;
• Carter, which protects the part from strong impacts and provides serious protection against deformation;
• An additional plastic cover, which is located to the side of the pin. It is necessary to protect the tip and body of the part;
• Fixing silicone ring;
• Nut that holds the finger;
• A spring that secures the cover.

Please note that the entire structure is extremely durable and resistant to mechanical stress. If you remove the tip from an old car, it will not have any play - the Teflon liner on it fixes the ball pin very tightly. If the tip becomes unusable due to abrasion of the liner. The finger moves more freely, which affects the entire operation of the steering mechanism.

Chemical analysis

The final part of the tests in accordance with GOST requirements is chemical analysis and determination of the steel grade for the ball pin. The DFS 500 spectrometer copes well with this, which recognizes the amount of each alloying or degrading element in the steel composition.

Based on the results of a study of the chemical analysis of the steel composition of the fingers, it turned out that all samples used structural alloy steels within the range of 45X-50X, which is the norm. Against this background, only the CTR tip stands out, in which the ball pin is made of 38ХМ steel: in addition to chromium, molybdenum is added to the alloy as an alloying additive, which increases strength and wear resistance.

Basic faults

As a rule, the tie rod end does not fail quickly. The car enthusiast will begin to notice a change in the nature of the steering mechanisms even before the need to replace the tip becomes obvious. The first sign that it is time to change the tip is the appearance of play . Completely new and even seriously worn, but while the spare part is working there is no play - the ball pin is fixed as tightly as possible by the liner. To determine whether you need to replace your tie rod end, pay attention to the following:

1. The nature of the gas pedal operation has changed;
2. During disassembly, it became clear that there was play in the steering rod;
3. The steering wheel turns too easily;
4. When driving on bad roads, accelerating or braking, the steering mechanism knocks or creaks;
5. When turning the steering wheel, a dull tapping sound is heard;
6. During the wheel alignment procedure, failures occur.

According to experts, the service life of different tips is different. On average, a part needs to be changed every 40-50 thousand kilometers . Over time, the hinge joint wears out due to the ingress of dirt particles. If the boot was not damaged, then the tip can travel over 50 thousand kilometers .

Often the elements of the steering mechanism fail due to the car hitting an obstacle at high speeds. If the driver inadvertently drove onto a high curb or even got into an emergency situation, then in the near future it is worth checking the condition of the steering mechanism.

Top 9 best tie rod manufacturers ranking 2022

The key part in driving a car is the steering linkage. It connects the steering rack to the tip. The part is a steel rod with a hinge element and threaded connections. It is the hinge element that is the weak part of the assembly.

When driving on bad roads, as well as when exposed to moisture and dirt, it is subject to accelerated wear, and a distinct knocking sound appears in the steering mechanism. In this case, urgent replacement is required, since the unit is directly related to driving safety.

To choose a tie rod, it will be useful to get acquainted with the recommendations of our experts.

QSTEN

Another Japanese auto parts manufacturer has earned the attention of our experts. The QSTEN brand belongs to the large concern L-Trading, which supplies automotive components to the assembly lines of Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.

Therefore, the quality of spare parts on the secondary market is not inferior to the original. It is documented by international certificates.

The company boasts a rich assortment, which includes both steering rods and stabilizer struts.

The brand’s worthy place in our ranking was also ensured by its smart pricing policy. Russian motorists report this in their reviews. Unfortunately, when buying, you can run into a fake, so preference should be given to trusted stores.

Advantages:

• high quality;
• wide range (for Japanese cars);
• affordable price;
• anti-corrosion coating.

Flaws:

ZF PARTS

The German brand ZF PARTS specializes in the development and production of steering gear parts. Experts praised the manufacturer for the innovations that are constantly being introduced in the manufacture of power steering, steering racks and rods. Some inventions have been adopted by other companies.

This approach did not go unnoticed by the grandees of the European automotive community. ZF PARTS products are supplied to the assembly lines of Mercedes, BMW, Porsche and Audi, as they fully meet the high requirements of famous car factories.

For its high quality and excellent technical characteristics, the brand is included in the TOP 6 of our rating.

ZF PARTS tie rods are not in high demand among domestic users. Experts cite the high price as one of the reasons.

Advantages:

• innovative approach;
• own developments;
• cooperation with large automobile factories;
• high quality.

Flaws:

• high price;
• modest assortment.

Optimal

The German company Optimal AG & Co. KG was founded in 1992. The manufacturer quickly gained its place in the car market thanks to its high rate of development. One of the reasons for the popularity of the brand was the reasonable combination of price and quality.

Experts also attribute the excellent growth dynamics to extensive warehouse stocks and well-thought-out logistics. The consumer is offered parts for steering, braking system, suspension and engine. The products comply with international quality standards TS 16949, QS 9000, VDA 6.

1, ISO 9001:2000. The brand is in eighth place in our ranking.

For some reason, motorists do not advise installing Optimal tie rods on the forums. Perhaps the reason lies in the large number of fakes.

Advantages:

• fast development;
• reasonable price;
• good quality;
• a wide range of.

Flaws:

• many fakes;
• small resource.

How to check the condition of the tie rod end

To carry out an inspection, you should drive your car onto an overpass or inspection hole. It is quite possible to get by using a jack if there is no access to the inspection hole. The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. Use a rag to clean the parts from dirt;
2. Inspect the mounting points;
3. Carefully inspect the steering tip boot. A boot covered with cracks definitely needs to be replaced;
4. Have an assistant turn the steering wheel and observe the operation of the tip. If it has moved along the length of the finger axis by a distance of more than 1.5 millimeters, then we can talk about the presence of play.

If the steering tip has play, it must be replaced as soon as possible. Anthers are consumables, so if there is the slightest damage, they can be safely replaced with new ones.

We also note that primary diagnostics can be carried out not only with the car raised, but also with the wheels removed or hung. This is true for checking ball joints, stabilizer bars and bearings. However, to get a complete picture, it is still worth carefully examining the underbody of the car and the steering elements in particular.

How to choose a new part

When selecting a steering tip, you do not need to take into account many characteristics, as would be the case when selecting, say, starter parts. You can search as follows:

• By VIN code . In this case, the car enthusiast is guaranteed to find a suitable original spare part. Searching by vehicle code can be complicated by the fact that existing electronic systems automatically “pull up” the analogues closest to the original. How to understand them?
• According to the spare part code . This is just the option when you have a lot of codes and you can’t decide which is best to choose. Here you need to take into account who manufactured the spare part. We'll talk about manufacturers later. You just have to remember that today, thanks to access to the network and the presence of many good electronic stores, you can check every code and get maximum information about each spare part;
• According to the car . Another option involves the use of electronic catalogs. Although a car enthusiast can always contact an official store, it is easier to search for a spare part online. You must indicate the make, model of the car, body and year of manufacture. The system will automatically select the original and the closest analogues.

During the search, a car enthusiast will note that it is very easy to select a tip using any of the three methods. The problem is different - original or non-original? Let's figure it out.

Brand tour

As practice shows, original steering tips can be head and shoulders above their analogues, or they may not differ significantly from them. The fact is that European automakers order steering parts from manufacturers who produce products under their own name. For example, if you have a Volvo , Audi , Volkswagen or BMW , then it has Lemforder steering ends. In fact, when you buy a branded spare part in a package with the name of this manufacturer, you are buying the same original, but at a much more affordable price. You should pay attention to the products of the following companies first of all:

• Lemforder (Germany) – as already mentioned, original quality at a low price;
• TRW (Germany) - the company is known for selling fairly high-quality spare parts at very affordable prices. They are inferior in quality to the originals;
• MOOG (USA) is a renowned manufacturer of suspension parts. Spare parts from the American manufacturer cost a lot, but they are head and shoulders above many other analogues. Beware of fakes!
• Mapco (Germany) is a manufacturer that has been undeservedly ignored by almost all car enthusiasts. In terms of price-quality ratio, its spare parts are among the best on the market. The steering parts perform well on Russian and Ukrainian roads;
• Nakamoto (Taiwan) - offers excellent tips for Asian-made cars. Today, the Thai company's products are exported to 50 countries, which is a good indicator;
• Febi (Germany) is a manufacturer that collects not the most flattering reviews. However, in general, the average quality of spare parts and consumables is compensated by incredibly low prices. If you are looking for a budget tip and boot, then you should pay attention to the products under the name Febi;
• CTR (South Korea) is another manufacturer offering inexpensive steering gear parts. At the same time, the quality of all parts is very high. The situation is overshadowed by the huge number of fakes that have flooded the secondary market for auto parts.

Spare parts for Mercedes e-class

Tie rod end external
E-Class sedan (W211) (03.02 - 12.08)

Spare parts for Opel astra

External tie rod end ASTRA H sedan (L69) (04 - 09)
Good tips are also offered by ]Delphi[/anchor] (USA), Wulf Gaertner Autoparts AG (Germany), GTR (Taiwan), SWAG (Germany). The latter company offers the most budget analogues, the quality of which clearly does not break records.

List of good and bad auto parts manufacturers. Dedicated to all motorists.

There are companies whose spare parts can be said with a fairly high degree of probability that they are of good quality.
These are Lmi, Boge, Behr, Ate, Lucas, Remsa, Jurid, Hella, Sachs, Bilstein (with reservations), K+F, Kilen, TRW, Pagid, Brembo, AKG, Gates, Contitech, Knecht, Mann, INA, SKF , (VDO Siemens), Pierburg, Kolbenschmidt, SM, SWF ZF, Valeo, LUK, Votex, LESJOFORS, Dayco, Beru, Eyquem. Liquids - Phoebe, Pentosin. Hepu

There are companies whose spare parts can be said with a fairly high degree of probability that they are of poor or disgusting quality. These are Febi, Meyle, HP (partly), Gabriel, Alko, Optimal, Bosal Ruville, Filtron, ATS, SFEC.

As far as we know, FEBI and RUVILLE are packers whose boxes can contain anything.

Body Tin and Plastic Good: Van Wezel, Schlieckmann. Not bad: Johns, Klokkerholm Not good: Signeda, Bodyparts, Api, TYC (All CHINA).

Hood shock absorbers Good: Stabilus (most often in the original) Not good: Dello, Meyle

Windshield Good: Asashi, Nordglass, EUROCODE, Pilkington, Securit (in the original most often), Splintex Not good: Sigma, Tyg

Main bearings, connecting rod Good: Kolbenschmidt

Connecting rods Good: Original, Autowelt

Hydraulic valve compensators Good: INA (most often in the original) Not good: Ajusa

Valves Good: Kolbenschmidt, TRW

Probe holder good: Original Not good: Topran, Hansprise, Jp group

Piston rings Good: Kolbenschmidt, Goetze, Mahle Not good: Autowelt

Engine mounts: Good: Boge, Lemforder (most often in the original), Corteco. Not good: Meyle, FEBI, Topran, Hansprise

Pistons Good: Kolbenschmidt, Mahle, Nural

Gaskets Good: Glaser, Victor Reinz Elring (If France) So-so: Glaser (Spain) Not good: Topran AJUSA and everything else

Timing belt Good: Contitech, Dayco (most often in the original), Gates Not good: Febi/Bilschtein, Ruville and everything else

Timing belt rollers Good: Lemforder, SKF, INA (in the original most often) Not good: Meyle, In the febi and ruville box there is always the same INA

Seals and Caps Good: Victor Reinz, Glaser, Elring (French), Goetze Not good: Elring (Germany)

Oil pump Good: original Not good: Dello; Meyle

Oil filter Good: Knecht (Mahle), Mann, Champion, Clean, BOSCH, Kolbenschmidt Not good: Filtron, ALCO, FRAM, Meyle, Hansprice, Sfec, Filtron and others

Cooling and ventilation system

Branch pipes, barrels. flanges, tees for sensors The best is the Original

Fan sensor Good: Hella/Behr, Lucas/TRW, Wahler Not good: Meyle

Water pump Good: KolbenShmidt, HEPU (Metal impeller) Valeo, Quinton Hazell, SKF, GRAF (Metal impeller), Not good: Dolz, FEBI, RUVILLE, Airtex, Pex

Cooling radiator Good: AVA, Behr, Valeo, HELLA Not good FEBI

Heater radiator good: Hella, behr, valeo Not very AVA

Expansion tank Good: Meyle Not good: Topran

Thermostat Good: Behr Wahler (in the original most often) Not good: Sfec febi

Engine air filter Good: Knecht (Mahle), Mann, Champion, Bosch H&K Not good: Delphi, alco, fram, meyle, SCT,

Cabin filter Good: Clean, knecht, bosch Not good: SCT, fram, alco, filtron

Power supply and exhaust systems

Fuel filter Good: Knect mahle The original does not differ much in price Not good: Filtron, Meyle, Fram, SCT

Gearbox filter Original only Not good: FEBI, HansPrice, Meyle

Muffler Good: Walker (Fonos), Ernst (in the original most often) Not good: Ferroz, Bosal, Arvintesh.

Muffler suspension cushion Good: Walker Not good: JP Group, Hanse Prize

Branded spare part or fake

The problem of choosing a branded spare part is acute. For example, CTR and MOOG products do not receive the best reviews because they are the ones most often counterfeited. You can recognize a good branded spare part by:

• Box . Pay attention not only to the original design (you can find photos on the Internet), but also to the material. This is corrugated cardboard. Today, more and more often you can find a fake inside a box made of the same cardboard, so let's move on;
• Inner packaging parts and. The steering gear parts are inside a tightly sealed bag;
• Quality of metal and additional elements . No burrs, scuffs, or technically unreasonable edges. Also, branded spare parts do not have unnecessary locking rings or castle nuts. For example, a real CTR can be identified by its self-locking nuts;
• Markings . Pay attention to the markings on the box and the part itself, barcodes for scanning and checking on the manufacturer’s website. Also, on the box with the original spare part there is always a hologram that is almost impossible to peel off with your fingers - just pry it with a knife and tear it off;
• Zavaltsovka . Pay attention to the place of rolling - there should be no burrs in its place.

Today, distinguishing an original from a fake is not so difficult if you have a smartphone at hand. It is enough to check the spare part using the barcode. If you take a part from a little-known company that has not taken care of the Internet integration of products and its own electronic catalog, then you are almost certainly not taking a product of the highest quality.

Which steering tip boot should you prefer?

A separate question: how to choose a tip boot? If you clarify the compatibility of the boot with your car, which, again, is easiest using the capabilities of the World Wide Web, then all that remains is to choose the material of the product and give preference to a specific manufacturer. You should know the following about materials:

• Rubber is a cheap and wear-resistant material. Today, almost all manufacturers have learned to work with it. You can take an inexpensive domestic boot and travel about 40 thousand kilometers with it (sometimes it goes even more). Rubber tends to harden in the cold and does not perform well in northern latitudes - it begins to crack, which negatively affects the operation of the tie rod end;
• Polyurethane is tougher and more durable than rubber. Not all cars are supplied with polyurethane bushings and boots. If you have a relatively new foreign car, then several European companies are definitely involved in the production of polyurethane boot tips and CV joints.

When choosing anthers, you should refer to the electronic catalog or use the search by codes or VIN code of the car. It is necessary to take into account the internal and external diameters (denoted in catalogs as d and D), length (L). If the new boot completely replicates the old one, its code should be saved. Next, you will need to select analogues and decide on the brand. Give preference to anthers from:

• Febi (Germany);
• Mobis (South Korea);
• Lemforder (Germany);
• Asam (Romania).

The steering tip boot can be found in the catalogs of almost all steering system component manufacturers, but there is one catch: the boot is rarely sold separately - only in a set with the tip. The hardest thing to find separately are Lemforder anthers, and the easiest ones are Febi and Mobis.

General ricambi

Description. The Italian company GENERAL RICAMBI is focused on supplying steering racks to European markets, which means that they have the appropriate quality certificates.

Including international standards ISO 9000, ISO 9001:2000.

The difference between racks with power steering and the Italian manufacturer is considered to be the possibility of restoration and maintainability. All materials used in the production process are considered high-tech, which prolongs the service life and leads to good reliability of the elements.

Equipment. The kit includes boots, clamps and all the necessary fastening elements, as well as rods. It is important to take into account that refurbished racks from the secondary market often do not have a complete set.

Life time. The guaranteed service life is set at 2 years. In the case of restored slats, the period is reduced to 1 year. The actual operation of the device is designed for at least 3 years.

Pros of GENERAL RICAMBI

1. Good quality combined with a low price.
2. Products are certified.
3. Maintainability and possibility of complete restoration.
4. High-tech materials and modern production processes, which reduces the number of defects.

Cons of GENERAL RICAMBI

1. There are a lot of remanufactured racks on the parts market that are sold as new.
2. Counterfeits are common, so you need to check the numbers and series, as well as barcodes.
3. Brand products from Turkey are characterized by reduced reliability due to differences in the production process.

Is it possible to replace the tip yourself?

The procedure for replacing individual steering elements is not complicated and takes an average of 20 minutes. The same work can be entrusted to a master, who will probably do it even faster. However, if you decide to replace the tip yourself , then follow the following algorithm:

1. Raise the car or leave it above the inspection hole;
2. Unscrew the bolts connecting the wheels to the car suspension;
3. Loosen the pin (pin) nut, leaving it on the thread;
4. Put on a puller that will make it easier to squeeze out your finger;
5. Get rid of the nut and take out the pin;
6. Remove the locknut located on the steering rod of the car;
7. Remove the tip;
8. It remains to mark the location of the existing tie rod and count the number of revolutions that the body of the old tip makes.

Now you need to install a new steering tip. After installing a new spare part, driving your car will become more reliable, easier and much safer. After replacement, it is strongly recommended to undergo a wheel alignment at the nearest station - experts unanimously agreed that this procedure is mandatory after replacement.

Restoration of steering gear elements is not recommended. The fact is that it will be difficult for a car enthusiast to monitor compliance with factory parameters and soberly assess the cost of restoration. It’s easier to buy new parts and install them yourself. It is also easy to replace the anthers yourself without the help of a specialist.

Reduced quality: what is wrong with the steering racks of five automakers

Around the beginning of the 2000s, there was a significant decline in the quality of automakers’ products—the service life and reliability of cars in general and their individual systems dropped noticeably. This also affected the steering racks: the materials used have deteriorated, the technologies for manufacturing and processing elements have become simpler and cheaper.

To evaluate the fruits of a new approach in the production of steering mechanisms, we turned to a Moscow company that specializes in professional repair of racks. In this collection we will talk about some car models that appeared on the market after about 2005, which were noted for significant problems. In the next article we will highlight those for which everything is in order so far. Please note that these statistics are based on the experience of a particular company. The market for rack repair services is divided between several companies, and it just so happens that the owners of some brands are serviced in other places.

Volkswagen Group

On Audi A4, A6 and Volkswagen Passat models of previous generations, the problem of the steering shaft driveshaft jamming is common. Trouble comes after three years of using the machines. The dealer can only offer a replacement of the cross assembly with the shaft, and it costs about 20 thousand rubles. Lath craftsmen will replace the rusted element separately for much less money. According to them, the reason lies in the use of a less corrosion-resistant crosspiece material.

The electric rack itself with a built-in amplifier mechanism is quite capricious and whimsical. After about 100 thousand km, it begins to knock due to the suspension of the cracker, and by 120–130 thousand km the steering rods die. And here everything depends on the qualifications of the master. In case of poor-quality repairs, when the anthers are tightened with plastic clamps, the tightness is broken and moisture gets inside the rack. Due to savings on the quality of materials, it quickly kills bearings, the rack itself and electronic elements. It is almost impossible to restore the node after this.

Nissan

On models with hydraulic racks - Nissan Teana and Murano of previous generations, as well as the first generation X-Trail - oil seals often leak. This happens after three to five years of operation. However, the leaks are not that serious. Most often, a wet traction boot threatens only a slight drop in the oil level in the expansion tank. The owner can safely drive the same distance while monitoring the lubrication level. However, repairs are still inevitable. Craftsmen see a problem in the processing technology of the rack shaft at the manufacturer. Its roughness is excessive, which renders the seals unusable.

Conclusion

Selecting a new tie rod end is not particularly difficult. You just need to check the compatibility of the part with your car and choose a spare part from the most trusted manufacturer. Today, the best analogues are offered by Lemforder, although under the name of this company the car enthusiast will find the same original. The tips do not cost a lot of money, as well as the boots - replacing this element of the steering system is affordable for all car enthusiasts. We strongly recommend buying new tips and, if necessary, boots, before carefully inspecting both elements and deciding whether a planned replacement is required. With careful driving on good roads, the tips and boots will travel well over 50 thousand kilometers.

Which tie rods have the highest PR rating?

When choosing among analogues of a given spare part, buyers want to know which manufacturers are recommended by car owners. In March 2022, the TOP 5 tie rods with the highest ratings on PartReview looked like this:

1. QSTEN - 94% positive votes. Average rating: 4.3
2. AS METAL - 93% positive votes. Average rating: 4.6
3. MASUMA - 81% positive votes. Average rating: 4.2
4. Lemforder - 77% positive votes. Average rating: 4
5. 555 - 77% positive votes. Average rating: 3.9