How do I know when/if my tie rod ends are bad?

How do I know when/if my tie rod ends are bad? :rolleyes:

There is a thread that talks about how you can tell if a center link is shot, but I can't find any about tie rod ends.

If your truck has been lifted, a stock center link goes bad.(...unless you already have an aftermarket steering system.) If your center link had gone bad and keep driving, that looseness from bad center link will affect tie rod ends? Or, do tie rod ends not go bad that fast?

Does anyone know?

AFAIK-

When Tie Rods go bad, they bend or break. That's really about it. Once that happens, the wheels won't turn in alignment to each other and you can have your left and right tires pointed in/out at the same time. Kinda like \=/ or /=\.

I don't think he is talking about the tierod adjusters/center pieces, but the tierod ends, where there is a ball joint and rubber bushing.

To test the sterring grab one wheel and turn it, if the other wheel turns at the same time then it's good, if one wheel turns a bit before the other turns then the tie-rod ends or centerlink is bad.
If you have a problem then look at the connections while somebody else turns the wheel to see which one is loose.