Track Rods and Track Rod Ends: The Most-Replaced UK Steering Component

From the steering rack, force passes through two track rods to the front wheel hubs. Each track rod has an inner ball joint (where it meets the rack) and an outer ball joint (where it meets the wheel hub). Both joints take constant steering load; both wear with use; both eventually need replacement. On UK cars, track-rod-end replacement is among the most common steering jobs — and one of the most common MOT advisories.

Inner vs outer

The outer track rod end (sometimes called the tie rod end) wears faster because it takes more of the road shock load. The inner tie rod (inside the steering rack’s rubber gaiter) wears more slowly but is bigger to replace because the gaiter has to come off.

Symptoms of wear

Knocking from the front under steering input. Vibration through the steering wheel at certain speeds. Uneven tyre wear (especially feathering of the front tyres). MOT play in the steering when wheels are rocked.

Always re-align after

Track rod end replacement changes the toe setting. After fitment, a four-wheel alignment is essential — driving on a misaligned car for even a few hundred miles starts to feather the tyres. Most garages include alignment with track-rod-end replacement labour.

Brand

Lemforder is OE on most German cars. First Line covers UK aftermarket broadly. Febi for technical-OE-equivalent applications. Moog has strong coverage. Cifam and Sasic on French applications.

Find track rods and track rod ends for your car on the Track Rods and Track Rod Ends collection.