Inner tie rod

[Abbby]

Just picked up a 2008 Grand Prix and am going through it bringing it up to snuff. Noticed a shimmy in the steering wheel so checked things out. Left wheel is very tight. right Wheel has quite a wiggle in it and it is not the outer tie rod. How do I know if it is the inner tie rod or the steering rack? If it is the inner does someone have a video\process for this? Thanks in advance.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

I do this on a lift but I just hang my body weight by the inner tie rod and have someone wiggle the tire at the same time.


You could do it on the ground too if the vehicle was high enough. Though you'd be using your arms to pull down hard on the inner tie rod to remove the allowed movement in it. If it stops being loose with you pulling down on it and someone shaking the wheel at 9 and 3, it's normally the inner tie rod.

[buickman104]

lock the steering wheel. get under the car and wiggle.

[cheatah faheatah]

lock the steering wheel. get under the car and wiggle.

Pretty sure these cars don't have the old school steering lock. Key on and brake to shift from park took it's place ??

[FordMan77]

Not sure about the 08, but my 00 GT has a steering lock, and I also have to have the key on and press the brake to get it out of park. Thought that was a standard thing...

[buickman104]

Oh, crap! I forgot this was an '08. I think only the 97-03 had steering lock.