Tie rod Fell Off?

[Ocram1500longhorn]

I was on a road trip in AZ/UT, driving 15-20mph on a side road then noticed the car started to shake badly.
I stopped and noticed passenger side front wheel wobbles. It turns out the outer tie rod fell out! The nut holding it in place went missing. I put the rod back and was able to drive to the nearest tire shop( closest dealership was 7 hours away). Luckily this didn't happen at highway speed.

A few days before my road trip I installed Bilstein shocks at Discount Tire and aligned the vehicle. Could this be the cause of the issue? Do they need to remove the tie rod to install the front shocks and align? Maybe they didn't tighten the nut enough? Or is it because something else?

 

[Ram1500rsm]

That's your tied rod, whoever did the install forgot to properly secure/torque the nut down. You should have every bolt/nut checked just in case.

 

[Ocram1500longhorn]

That's your tied rod, whoever did the install forgot to properly secure/torque the nut down. You should have every bolt/nut checked just in case.

thanks. Do they need to remove tie rods for installing Bilstein shocks? I watched several YouTube videos none of them removed the tie rods.

 

[392DCGC]

Since when does Discount Tire do anything besides... tires and wheels?

 

[c3k]

Alignment would be my guess, but we all know we shouldn't need to take out the tie rod end for that.

 

[5thGenLoco]

Yes, the tie rod is removed for install of the strut assembly. The installer failed to properly torque the nut. I would re-torque everything under there as a precaution.

 

[Ram1500rsm]

thanks. Do they need to remove tie rods for installing Bilstein shocks? I watched several YouTube videos none of them removed the tie rods.

Yep, they have to pop them out from that mount right where your nut went missing.

 

[Ocram1500longhorn]

Thanks. I'll go after them for sure.

 

[SD Rebel]

Discount Tire? They don't do anything but tires, are you sure it was them?

 

[Ocram1500longhorn]

Discount Tire? They don't do anything but tires, are you sure it was them?

Sorry my bad. It's discount tire centers not discount tire

 

[SD Rebel]

Sorry my bad. It's discount tire centers not discount tire

Oh no worries, just curious

I was actually thinking it would be awesome if they were suddenly do other stuff.

 

[MannymanX]

I'd say they didn't even put it back.....................

 

[Waterfowler41]

I bet they hand tightened down the nut but never tightened it. The vibration from the wheels during your trip sent the nut to a roadside grave.

Thank god your safe, at speed this would’ve been terrifying.

 

[yaksushi]

Did you contact the shop that did the work?

 

[dalailama23]

I guess that why they used to have cotter pins for safety. that could have been catastrophic at speed.

 

[Waterfowler41]

I guess that why they used to have cotter pins for safety. that could have been catastrophic at speed.

I wonder why they got rid of them. Thinking about it I didn’t see them on my 14 GMC or on my 20 Rebel...

 

[Wsmith]

I wonder why they got rid of them. Thinking about it I didn’t see them on my 14 GMC or on my 20 Rebel...

Cotter pins are really expensive

 

[c3k]

I assume you have, since, checked your left side?

 

[Ocram1500longhorn]

the tire shop acknowledged their error and promised to make things right. Thanks guys!

 

[ArtieD]

the tire shop acknowledged their error and promised to make things right. Thanks guys!

Wow how do you make that right free tire rotation ? boy thats scary , the shop I took mine to torque everything on lift than put it down retorque and paint each bolt so they know they hit it a second time