Worth the Money

[boostdeliquent]

I just broke my tie rods drifting (well trying to....curb) and was going to buy some of the Tein replacements off ebay. I heard they are basically S14 tie rods so I just wanted to know if they are worth the money or if I should just go with S14 units? Thanks for the input.

[DJPimpFlex]

SEARCH!!!! There was a thread about this not to long ago. Since your so new I'll spoon feed you...This only took me about 30 seconds.

http://www.zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=99196&highlight=tie+rods

[boostdeliquent]

Oh, sorry. I searched but didn't feel like reading through all the threads. I'll be more deligent next time. Thanks for the link though.

[boostdeliquent]

Oh, BTW I checked the link and thats the reason I was asking. I had read it before and everone seemed to give the impression that the Tein units were basically the same as stock S14's.

[FaLKoN240]

How much do you want to spend? How low is your car, how modified are you going to get with your suspension? Those are the questions you should be asking yourself, before you make your purchase.

[!Zar!]

z32 inner

Spl outter.

Just keep in mind, that if your inner/outters don't break, something else will.

And I hope you don't mean, "drifting" as in going really fast yanking the wheel in any direction and gassing it drifting.

Do yourself and people around you and keep the drifting off streets and if you don't have it already, get some type of diff.

Just to let you know, right now you are considered a ricer. Just by stating you had a civic and then you purchaced a 240 to "drift" and then you crashed whining about how you didn't want to search for help.

I have nothing against you. ^_^

[boostdeliquent]

For right now,my car is stock and will stay that way until I can afford to do more. I do want my 240 to handle like no car in its price range should and plan on modifyng every part possible in the future. I will drift it for now ( or atleat try to), but my main concern is trying to minimize the risk of snapping a tie rod every time I hit a curb since I am still learning.

[DJPimpFlex]

well dont hit curbs....Theres no curbs at the track. When your a vergin and you have sex with some chick, you think its hella great, but there are other chicks out there that are WAY better at it, and you just dont know it. The hotter better at sexin chicks are the track. Go get yourself some...lol.

[!Zar!]

Well, it sounds like you have an open diff. And I seriously doubt you are drifting, but more or likely powersliding for short periods. And part of the reason why you might've crashed is because your diff unloaded.

I'm not stating that drifing with an open isn't possible, I've done it. But that was only after getting the basics down and driving with an actual lsd for a long amount of time.

[FaLKoN240]

If you're worried about breaking tie rods EVERY time you hit a car, maybe you should find a new extra-curricular activity.

[m072514]

stop "drifting." take up sewing. your making the roads unsafe and making 240 owners look like delinquents...

pun intended.

[boostdeliquent]

stop "drifting." take up sewing. your making the roads unsafe and making 240 owners look like delinquents...

pun intended.
I am geting the impression I should clarify some details since it would appear that you, as well as others, have me mistaken.

Firstly if you would have read, I was in a parking lot while I was doing this. True it is not a track or as safe but I have no track events to go to in this area that I know about and there is no credible drifting scene here.

Secondly, though contrary to how it may seem, I don't go around driving like an idiot. I'll leave that for the 16 yr old that just got their civic. I realize I don't know what I am doing at this point, so I am attempting to learn. I found this site and thought it would be a good resource for me to expand upon my current knowledge, which though fairly extensive, is not that in depth when it comes to Nissans.

I have been on other message boards and realize that the quickest way to piss off forum members is to not search and ask right away. I had read the thread link above and certain aspects of it were a bit ambiguous which is why I asked my current question.

I know you have to pay to play so to speak when it comes to any form of motorsports but I am in college right now so I am attempting to minimize my overall cost while learning. I just thought it would be apt to ask for the opinions of members of this board since I know it is better to learn from others who know and get it right the first time instead of wasting my scarce resources when they could be utilized better.

If that makes me a douche ricer then so be it but at least I am trying to learn and seeking guidance.

[m072514]

my bad for mischaracterizing you. but still, at least practice in parking lots that dont have curbs...

[Neejay]

I am geting the impression I should clarify some details since it would appear that you, as well as others, have me mistaken.
...
Good mature reply. I understand where you're coming from now.

[fatalfury64]

I practice in empty parking lots too. Just be careful to scope it out before practicing. What do you guys think if a cop catches you drifting in the parking lot?

[Neejay]

And I wouldn't go with OEM style tie rod ends if you're gonna be drifting/autox. I got some s14 tie rods (yes, basically the same as Tein).

[boostdeliquent]

Ok, thanks. That's what I needed to know. Now I just need to find a better parking lot w/ out curbs and get a LSD. :doh:

[Neejay]

Yeah, do like someone else said and get at least z32 inners and SPL outers. Daily driving only (IMO) = at least s14 tie rods (thicker than oem s13)

[!Zar!]

Slightly off topic, but other than those motorcycle training courses, I don't think there are any parking lots, or at least in my area that don't have something you can hit. Isn't it somehthing like a light or some object every 20 or so feet from eachother?

But like stated before. I suggest quickly learning how to dodge inanimate objects.

[boostdeliquent]

For sure. Dodging inanimate objects FTW.

The parking lots here aren't too bad. I had been using the ones on campus at night since the layout of the curbs worked well for my purposes. Until I get the Z32 inners, SPL outers, and a LSD I doubt I'll be trying to drift too much. I'm just gonna get the mechanical condition up to par and maybe do some mild grip driving for now.

[g6civcx]

Just as an FYI, if you do get aftermarket tie rods you can get more steering angle, but you can also get some wheel rub if you don't have enough offset.

[HyperTek]

any tie rod is good.. even stock... Hit curbs and something breaks.. short answer= curb owns anything.

[fatalfury64]

Since we're on the subject of tie rods, I had replace my worn down outer tie rods with some aftermarket pillowballs. I don't know who makes them, but when I turn right, the driver side makes a clunk noise. I think its the left outer tie rod. Left turns are ok though. I have done torrow searching about this and solutions that people said were the tension rods or tie rods. I replace them all. Still feel the clunk. Should I just take the tie rod out and reinstall it? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

[NemeGuero]

Yah, just don't hit curbs.. problem solved. Don't drift in the direction of curbs.
They aren't that hard to avoid... they don't move.

[boostdeliquent]

Well, I finally got my paycheck and decided to go w/ the S14 inner and outers. I bought the inners at auto zone but they didn't have the outers so I ended up going to advanced auto for them.

So as I am ordering them, the lady at the check out tells me they have a lifetime warranty. Bwahahahahahaha, thank god drifting is not that well known around here. Now when I break another one, which I am sure I will, I can just keep replacing it for free. :bigok: Now all I have to do, is save up for a LSD and buy it.

[Neejay]

Well, I finally got my paycheck and decided to go w/ the S14 inner and outers. I bought the inners at auto zone but they didn't have the outers so I ended up going to advanced auto for them.

So as I am ordering them, the lady at the check out tells me they have a lifetime warranty. Bwahahahahahaha, thank god drifting is not that well known around here. Now when I break another one, which I am sure I will, I can just keep replacing it for free. :bigok: Now all I have to do, is save up for a LSD and buy it.
Good deal...I didnt even think about going to the autoparts store. I got mine cheap of ebay.

If for some reason mine bend/brake/whatever, I'll be going to the autoparts and getting some so I can get that warranty :)

[ericb382]

Does that warranty have some sort of conditions, like "under normal wear and tear" or something along those lines? I find it hard to believe that if you hit a curb and bend the hell out of your tie rod they would just replace it for free. I could be wrong though.

[g6civcx]

Better the tie rod than the frame.

[Father Time]

14 tie rods and tien tie rods are NOT the same. the Tiens are MUCH larger... BUT the outer tie rod ends are the same. Plus the tiens offer a much tighter curb to curb.

[boostdeliquent]

Does that warranty have some sort of conditions, like "under normal wear and tear" or something along those lines? I find it hard to believe that if you hit a curb and bend the hell out of your tie rod they would just replace it for free. I could be wrong though.
The lady didn't mention any sort of stipulations for the warranty but I am assuming there will be some. The way I figure it though, it will be very hard for them to substantiate whether or not I was indeed just driving normally or taking a spirited run.

I'm just going to keep the spirited driving to a minimum until I am able to upgrade to the Z32 inners and SPL outers though. I figure I can get away with the free replacement once or twice but after that some questions will start to be raised.

BTW: Neejay, I bought the tie rods at Advanced Auto Parts and the manufacturer with the lifetime warranty is TRW. The warranty is on both the inners and outers as well.

[!Zar!]

Well, no suspension parts should just break under normal driving conditions.
The warranty is probably on manufacturing defects or if something retarded like the threads strip, the bushing leaks the goo out, or something under that nature.

But then again. I wouldn't even want to find that out.

Drive where you arn't likely to hit anything.

And when you upgrade something you transfer the force to somewhere else.

[Neejay]

And when you upgrade something you transfer the force to somewhere else.
That was one of my main reasons for not upgrading to the pillowball tie rod ends...especially since my car is only street driven (not even daily driven).