Tie rod ends shearing wheel weights-?

[CISO1969]

I posted this at Clubx, but didn't get any feedback i was hoping for from the Techs and experts there. Any ideas on why this is happening?

OK recently I replaced both inner and outer tie rod ends on the X-both passenger and drivers side. Had it aligned and it runs great.

I noticed a grinding noise when I made a hard left but not when I made a hard right. Everything looked ok: Steering, tie rods, greased turn stops, etc.

Finally I found the issue, all my wheels were balanced on the inside of rim not on the outside and on the front passenger side a large wheel weight has been ground down to an angle flush with the rim. The tie rod was scraping the wheel weight when fully turned. I checked both sides and there must only be about an 1/8th inch clearance from side of Tie rod and the indside lip of tire rim when wheel is fully turned one way or the other.

So whats wrong? In all the years I have had these desert runner rims on the truck (rotating tires) nothing like this has happened.

Did they screw something up when they adjusted the steering wheel, or when they did the alignment? Is that tolerance normal when fully turned one way or the other (1/8th inch space)?

Thanks

CISO

 

[granitex]

mine were never anywhere near close enough to cause anything like that, and they were the same offset as the DR rims.

 

[CISO1969]

Yes, hence my confusion and concern as to what could have changed or what I need to look at. Any ideas? Anyone? Just seems so odd and random after all this time.

Lee

 

[Silver dude]

DR rims and happens to me all the time. One time it even shaved a little rubber off the bead protection area. I never thought it to rub on the tierod. But, the sharp edge of the lower arm. It literally shaves the weights like a file. I've a thought perhaps my steering stops were out of adjustment as it only happens when at full lock. Having the balancer use stick on rather then clip on weights worked on one side. I guess you could take a look at the ounces of weight on there. Then replace them with stick on weights which go inside the wheel.

 

[CISO1969]

yes but what bothers me is what is causing it? The Xterra is basically the Frontier gone down a different path. is it ehe 3" suspension lift that throws it all off? Aftermarket TRE's? Fate?

 

[Silver dude]

I believe its the suspension lift. It jacks up the angles of the lower arm causing it to rub my rims. I drove my truck years before installing a suspension lift with never a issue. Your right though it is strange. I keep wanting to say it rubs the vertical face of my SLR UCA's to for some reason. I vaguely remember them having worn edges. But, its been a long time since I've looked. Which UCA's you using?

 

[CISO1969]

calimini UCA's, and Echo 9 had that issue with his SLR UCA's

 

[Silver dude]

Ah makes sense. If yours are rubbing your tierods maybe you bent a spindle or something seems strange. First time I've heard of it rubbing tierods.


To break down the causes

. Wheel hub surface untrue. Maybe a piece of gravel or dirt got between the hub and wheel when you mounted it giving it a wobble that could cause the wheel to swing into the tierod.

. Wheel bearings, maybe your front wheel bearings are sloppy. This could cause enough play to rotate the wheel into the tierod if it gets bad enough.

. Loose wheel weights perhaps the wheels corroded under the weights pushing the weights further out into the tierod.

. Perhaps with your new steering the geometry changed slightly. Causing your tires to throw a little more at full lock and rub another component. Which caused the weights to flair out a bit rubbing the tierod.

. Perhaps your new tierods are of larger overall diameter. Its normal for them to vary a bit depends on the supplier.