tie rods?

[tipota]

what exactly do tie rods do and how do you know if they need replacment? with my car, whenever i take tight corners and im pressing the gas i feel some shaking in the steering wheel and someone said it might be tie rods.

[curtis73]

Tie rods are the adjustable link between the car and the wheels. Typically the end that is nearest the wheel has a ball joint to allow articulation. That ball joint wears out allowing play.

My first thought when you say turning and shaking is either a bent wheel or CV joints (if its front wheel drive). Please list the car and year so we can help you better.

[tipota]

the car is a 95 honda civic dx, front wheel drive. there is no creaking when i turn, so the cv joints are not rippes. it only happens above 20 mph and when im pressing the gas on a decently tight turn. i havnt noticed it if i have the clutch in. What would a bent wheel be? Do you mean the actual rim or the hub or something?

[superchuckles]

it could be the sidewall of your tire folding under and rippling over & over - as an experiment, try adding 5 to 10 pounds of air (you can let it right out when done if it doesn't pan out) more in the tires (at least the fronts) and go try the same corner again at the same speed. if it makes it smoother and you want to have good cornering ability but lower pressure to get traction, i'd recommend getting a lower profile set of tires.