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Ball joints and tie rod ends


Do you know what it means when your mechanic tells you that you need new ball joints or tie rod ends?

Let's start with the function of these front end components. Tie rod ends allow you to direct your vehicle by turning your steering wheel, and keep your tires a certain distance apart from each other. Ball joints are the bottom pivot point of your tire.

Both components exhibit the same symptoms of being worn out. You may hear creeking or clunking when driving over bumps. You may also notice that your tires are wearing out only on the outside edge. Your mechanic will be able to tell you which one is worn out with a proper front end inspection.

I have attached a picture of the front end with the parts labeled. It was found at this website
http://www.autopart.com/gifs/suspension2.jpg

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