Tie rods and end links

[BCB00GT]

Like many others, I have been getting noises while backing out the driveway (slightly sloped) and turning the wheel or turning sharp, especially when the road changes elevation. I am thinking tie rods.

History: I changed the lower a arm (front) with the 2003 Cobra arm while doing LTs about 7 months ago. Helped a lot. I say this to rule out ball joint. Noise was there before, but not as bad. Now the noise is worse. Car has 87K miles on a 2000GT.

I took a passenger pic of the tie rod and driver pic. The driver pic makes the angle from the inner rod look strange (atleast the boot looks awkward). Hopefully a technician can chime in.

Another question, I was going to replace the end links to get new bushings after 87K miles. Why should I use or not use the shorter end link (4.25" vs stock 5.0")? It seems since the car is lowered with Steeda springs and bilstein struts that the stock end links would be creating unnwanted stress on the end link bushings.

Thanks
Bryan

 

[BCB00GT]

End link pic

Here is the passenger side end link

 

[wms004]

Here is the passenger side end link

subscribing.. I have noise and ruled out steering rack bushings. I was about to order ball joints until i read this post.

WAde

 

[Torinalth]

one thing that i know does cause the noise is the steering shaft. some get good results with going to a solid shaft like the one MM sells, but i do know that one issue is that when lowered at least the shaft is off centered and can/does bind at the k member mounting points.

tie rod ends can also cause this, but i have to say, no way of telling if thats your problem from your pics... just cant really see well enough. and dont bother with replacing the tie rods them selves, that will not fix anything.

Torinalth

 

[DTNODYA]

Try reading through this thread I made back when: http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=616567&highlight=tie+rod+ends

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I think your fundamental problem is that your car is lowered too far. Look at the angle of the a-arm and tie rod end in relation to the ground. You need offset rack bushings and perhaps drop spindles. How much are you lowered???