Scary!!!!! Tie rod ends seperated

[sparky65]

I just had my inner and outer tie rod ends separate on my 2000 Montana. Turned the wheel to the right while entering the drive way and i heard a series of clunks and the steering felt funny. Got out and looked and the front left wheel was turned all the way in.

Nothing is sheared off and the threads don't look damaged so i have no idea why it separated. It looks like there may be some rust scale in the outer end but it doesn't look striped. They are not that old either. ~1.5 years since i put them on. And i checked them about 3 months ago when i was trying to find the source for another noise. Turned out to be a control arm bushing that time.

As i was backing out in the morning i heard a clunk but i thought it was ice. I guess it was just the tie rod ends skipping a few threads apart. I am just lucky they didn't come of while i was doing 65 MPH on the highway this morning.

The bad part i when i replaced them 1.5 years ago i did it under Moog's Lifetime warranty. This time they tell me they are no longer warrantied. Anyone know if this is the case?

Has anyone replaced inner tie rod ends? I really dont know which was the problem so i am going to do both.

[JabbaTHutt]

Life time warranty is lifetime no matter how many times you replace them. Its like going to an all you can eat buffet, if you can eat 10 plates you eat ten plates, they can't stop you after 3.

[sparky65]

my problem was i really have nothing that says there ever was a lifetime warranty. THe first time the guy at the counter just said he thought there was and replaced them without question. So if anyone has information showing that Moog ever had a lifetime warranty let me know.

I finally got the inner tie rod end out. It is really a pain in the neck would be better done with the rack out of the car.

[rockwood84]

a lot a things that were sold under a lifetime warranty are now days not. but they still have to honor the lifetime warranty if it was sold under a lifetime warranty. autozone is one that is trying to do away with lifetime warranties.but if it was sold under a lifetime warranty years ago they still have to honor the warranty even though they try to wiggle out of it.do you still have the paperwork on the tierods?where did you buy the moogs ?

[sparky65]

I bought them from a local auto parts store not one of the big chains. THe original receipt and the one from the first replacements say nothing about a warranty. that's why i was wondering if there ever was a manufactures warranty out there or if they were just nice the first time.

[rockwood84]

i bought mine from o'reilley's auto parts and they have a lifetime on them.i could have bought another brand for less but went with the moog as they were lifetime. so i guessing yours have a lifetime on them as they are a moog brand. all i can say is take them back and tell them you want replacements as you bought them under a lifetime warranty.if they give you static about proof tell them to check their computer as they should have it .never heard of a moog seperating