Help With Bush On Suspension

[insu]

Hey gang,

Fairly recently I've noticed my car (r33 gtst) has started to develop a slight vibration through the steering at all speeds. Its not a side to side, but a vibration just through the wheel.

Secondly, when a turn a corner left my car is fine, but if I turn a corner right with any sort of speed or too sharply I get this clunk from the front left of the car.

I got sick of this and decided to jack the car up and see if could locate the problem. Now I checked just about every bush/connection/screw I could find, but to be quite frank I don't really know what I'm looking at.

What I did notice is that on the left hand side what appears to be the tie rod end? Seems to be deteriorated. The right hand side seems fine though. Now firstly, i'm not sure if this is even the tie rod end so I have attached photos of both the good and bad side below. Secondly, could anyone tell me if this is even damaged or is it just a cover which is damaged etc?

Thirdly, could anyone tell me if this would account for the things I have been experiencing above.

Lastly, could anyone tell me roughly what I should expect to pay to replace this part?

I offer my thanks to anyone with some information. Cheers

The bad bush on the left hand side:

The Good one on the right:

Apologies for the quality of the images also, my camera doesn't seem to like to focus properly

Edited June 14, 2006 by insu

[SteveL]

Yes it's a steering tie-rod end and the rubber dust boot has disintegrated. That will have allowed dirt/dust/water into the ball joint causing wear, corrosion,etc., which might be the cause of your problems. Best get it replaced ASAP and inspect all the other suspension/steering parts at the same time. Sorry no idea of the cost.

[Wheezy]

for the cost of the boot on most local cars its just as cheap to get a whole new tie rod

being a nissan import id check to see whats cheaper....call nissan for a rubber doubt they are available aftermarket, might be able to get aftermarket tie rod ends from an autoshop in a cheap taiwanese brand too

[insu]

Hey man, are you saying that there is a chance that the disintegration is only the boot protecting the actual joint not the joint itself?

Sorry excuse my ignorance, I just didn't know if there was a boot protecting the joint or it was all just a joint in there.

Thanks

Think I'll take my car to a reputable suspension shop. Last place I took it to said there was nothing wrong whatsoever, and that was around 2 weeks ago.

Maybe Fulcrum...

[r33_racer]

Jack up that left hand side and then hold the left hand wheel with your hands and just try and make it move without actually turning the wheel...there should be virtually no play. If the wheel can move a few mm and it feels a little sloppy, then thats your tie rod end worn out, its very dangerous if they get bad, should be replaced immediately, if it breaks outta its casing whilst driving you will know about it