# Broken Tie Rod or Not?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-tie-rod-or-not/20788>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [October 16, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-tie-rod-or-not/20788 "2008-10-16T12:52:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mhugos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dec6dc/32.png) [@mhugos](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mhugos)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 12:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-tie-rod-or-not/20788/1 "2008-10-16T12:52:38Z")

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For the past 9 months or more, I’ve been driving my 1998 Volvo 850 Wagon with a clunking sound occuring just about underneath my feet whenever I drive over bumps at low speeds. There have been no other symptoms and it has not affected the car’s driving ability. I just figured something was loose. I finally brought it in to get it fixed and the garage reported a broken tie rod on both sides. $500 to replace them. However, I still hear the clonking noise going over bumps, and I’m wondering, if I had 2 broken tie rods, wouldn’t I have noticed a difference in my steering???  
  
  
  
 Thanks in advance for your reply(s)

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**Author:** ![silvergc1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6f9a4e/32.png) [@silvergc1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/silvergc1)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-tie-rod-or-not/20788/2 "2008-10-16T15:15:47Z")

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If you had broken tie rods, you wouldn’t have been able to steer at all. That obviously wasn’t the problem. This sounds more like shocks or anti-sway bar bushings.

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 6:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-tie-rod-or-not/20788/3 "2008-10-16T18:17:41Z")

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I agree; with a broken tie rod there would be no steering.  
Badly worn tie rods can cause a thunk sound but if they’re worn this bad then it should be noticeable in the feel of the steering. (excess movement in the steering wheel, wandering on the road, etc.)

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-tie-rod-or-not/20788/4 "2008-10-16T21:49:35Z")

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We are unanimous in that.

The last time I fixed a “clunking going over bumps” problem (my own) it was simply the sway bar bushings that hold the bar to the chassis. The busings cost me a few bucks each and the labor was minimal (mine). Huge difference in the hole diameters between the old ones and the new ones due to wear and shrinkage.

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**Author:** ![mhugos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dec6dc/32.png) [@mhugos](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mhugos)\
**Post date:** [October 16, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/broken-tie-rod-or-not/20788/5 "2008-10-16T22:18:51Z")

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I should have investigated before I took the car in, but too late now…I’ve learned a lesson. I will, however, talk to the mechanics and see what they say. At least I feel like I know what I’m talking about now.

Thank you all for your very helpful input.