What is an indicator that the tie rod ends might be worn during a check?

An indicator that the tie rod ends might be worn is when there is too much movement when pushing and pulling on the tires. This situation occurs because tie rod ends connect the steering knuckle to the steering gear, and when they wear out, they can lose their ability to maintain tight connections between these components. This results in noticeable play or movement in the wheels when subjected to lateral forces.

When performing a check on the suspension and steering components, pushing and pulling on the tires should ideally result in minimal movement. If excessive play is detected, it indicates wear or damage in the tie rod ends, which can lead to steering instability and misalignment. Addressing this wear is crucial for vehicle safety since worn tie rod ends can affect handling and responsiveness of the steering system.

While the other options may relate to various steering or suspension issues, they do not specifically pinpoint the wear in tie rod ends. For instance, excessive steering effort can stem from several issues, such as problems with the power steering system, while abnormal tire wear patterns often indicate alignment or suspension problems rather than direct tie rod end issues. Noise when turning the steering wheel might indicate issues related to steering components or lubrication but doesn’t directly correlate to tie rod end wear like excessive movement does.