Volkswagen Tie Rod Replacement Guide

Is your Volkswagen tie wearing uneven, loose steering wheel, and shaking when driving due to a faulty tie rod? Learn how to fix the problem by replacing the tie rod of your Volkswagen. This guide provides step-by-step instructions on replacing the tie rod end on a Volkswagen.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of a worn tire rod on a Volkswagen include:

• Uneven tie wear
• Unresponsive steering
• Loose steering wheel feeling
• Clunking or noise
• Shaking when driving
• Steering Wheel that Feels Unusual
• Squealing Sound When You Turn

You will need

• VW Outer Tie Rod
• Floor jack
• Jack stands
• Impact gun
• Metric Socket set
• Torque wrench

Procedure

1. Park in a safe work area
2. Loosen the lug nuts for the wheel where you will work on.
3. Raise the car using the floor jack, then secure it with the jack stand.
4. Remove the wheel on the side you need to replace the tie rod end on.
5. Remove the wheel using the impact gun.
6. Make a mark on the tie rod to pinpoint where it is adjusted. When installing the new one, you will need that as a point of reference.
7. After making a reference mark, remove the nut holding the ball joint on the tie rod. Then, remove the joint from the steering knuckle and use two wrenches to remove the tie rod by turning the nut on the tie rod.
8. Install the new tie rod. Please pay attention to the reference mark you made and ensure it lines up exactly. You will still need front-end alignment, which allows you to be as close as possible to the recommended specs.
9. Put the tire back on. Use the impact to tighten the lug nuts in a criss-cross pattern. Be careful not to strip the lugs.
10. Remove the jack stand and lower the car so there is some weight on the wheel. Torque the wheel nuts to the recommended specs.
11. Have the car aligned by an auto repair shop.

Torque Specs

• Tie rod end nut 33 ft-lb,
• Tie rod end to tie rod  (nut) 37 ft-lb

These are typical values used on many VW vehicles. You are responsible for verifying these values by calling any Volkswagen dealer.

Do I need to get the wheels alighted after replacing a tie rod on a VW?

Yes. Replacing the tie rod changes the toe-in / toe-out, which means the front end must be aligned.

Do I need front-end alignment if my vehicle won’t pull to the side?

Yes. Even if your vehicle doesn’t pull after you replace the tie rod, it is strongly recommended to get the front-end alignment done. Toe-in/out may be out of spec, leading to premature tire wear.

We hope you find the Volkswagen Tie Rod Replacement Guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Volkswagen.