S40RCE:Smurf

i brought my car into this mechanic for a NY State inspection today, they put the S4 on the lift and told me that my tie rods are gone for, and said i cant pass with out getting them fixed, they sounded shady so i told them im not going to get them changed but i asked them for a price and they said they would call me in 10 minutes but no phone call were they making up the situation with the tie-rod ends or do i really have a problem with them. when the car was on the lift i shook the front wheels and they seem to move is this normal? by move i mean a nudge around the tie-rods i have no noises coming from them and my steering is perfectly fine even over 100+mph, i just have a feeling that they made it up but couldnt fool me can someone verify if this shaking nudging is a sign for new tie rods or not, thank you.. the problem is that i dont want to have my wheel fly off when im goin on the highway thanks again...

Quattrosaurus

When they go bad, they usualy start breaking apart at the rubber boot. Usualy....

BTW...they are a very easy DIY. But you'll need to get the car aligned afterwards. However, it'll save you the time/money of taking it in a shop to get them swapped out.

S40RCE:Smurf

from behind the wheel well

Quattrosaurus

...just stick the camera slightly into the fender and snap a few pics of the tie rod ends.

S40RCE:Smurf

ok

DeutschDriver

wtf? post that again with some punctuation so that i might understand you better.

S40RCE:Smurf

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/91564/dscn2649.jpg"></center><p>thhis is what they look like the tie rods are they normal?

S40RCE:Smurf

i put up a pic can u guys tell me if im fine?

Quattrosaurus

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12690/torntieboot1.jpg"></center><p>You can see where the rubber boot is torn.

Pic taken from Andy_TN's pic poster

internecine

i think those are the controll arms.