If you’ve ever driven down Te Rapa Road and hit one of those hidden potholes, you’ll know your steering can cop a real beating around Hamilton. We see all sorts in the workshop – Mazda Demios from Matangi, older Volvo XC60s up from Cambridge, hybrids like Prius C zipping through Chartwell, you name it. One thing a lot of Kiwis don’t think about until it’s WOF time is their inner tie rods. But honestly, if those are worn, steering can go from solid to sketchy pretty quick, especially with all the stop-start traffic on Ulster Street or those speed bumps around Rototuna.
Inner Tie Rod Inspection – Spotting the Early Signs
Your inner tie rods are what connect the steering rack to the wheel, so if they’re dodgy, the car’s never going to feel right. First thing one of our techs will do is give them a proper once-over. We’ll get the wheels up, have a wiggle, check for any slop or weird movement in the joint. Sometimes, you’ll see torn boots or a bit of grease splattered around – it’s often worse during those soggy winter Hamilton mornings when rubbish from the road gets chucked up underneath.
We had a Toyota Alphard in from Morrinsville the other day – the owner said she was fighting the wheel just driving down State Highway 3. Sure enough, inner tie rods loose as anything, dust boots split, grease oozing out. That sort of thing is a big red flag for the WOF. If you want to see what bad tie rod problems can look like, check out this guide on tie rod symptoms or have a read about removal and replacement steps here.
Checking Wheel Alignment – Keeping Your Ride Straight
Next up, alignment. After you’ve driven over a few potholes on Kahikatea Drive or hit those dips out in Flagstaff, even brand new tie rods can get knocked out of line. We always check the wheel alignment after any tie rod work, because if it’s off, you’ll chew through tyres in no time and the car might pull to one side, especially bad for those trips out to Raglan or Tamahere.
Alignment checks aren’t just for show – it’s about getting the wheels pointed exactly the way the car maker wants. Makes a massive difference for tyre life and how safe your steering feels. If you’re curious how alignment is done, there’s a good explainer here.
Replacing Inner Tie Rods – Restoring Proper Steering Feel
Sometimes, there’s no way around it – the best fix is to just swap out the inner tie rod. Had an older lady bring in her Suzuki Swift from Nawton with steering that just wandered all over the road. The tie rod end was so far gone, you could move the wheel an inch before anything happened. We got the old parts out, fitted in a fresh one, dialed in the adjustment to match, and got her straight through her WOF Hamilton check. There’s more info on the actual swap here if you’re keen: Inner tie rod replacement guide. You’ll notice the difference straight away – these jobs always make a car feel so much tighter and more planted.
Final Thoughts – Keep Your Steering Safe the Kiwi Way
If your steering’s started feeling vague or your tyres are wearing funny, don’t wait till your next car service Hamilton gets booked in. At Grimmer Motors, we get how fast Kiwi roads, dodgy weather, and busy family life can wear out your steering. We’ll check everything over, sort out your alignment, and do tidy inner tie rod repairs when you need them so your vehicle’s always up to scratch for the WOF or just that next drive out to Gordonton.
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We take time to get the little details right
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Use top-notch diagnostic gear
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Our team’s seen just about every NZ car problem you could name
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We genuinely care about keeping your family safe on the roads
If you reckon your steering’s not quite right, or just want peace of mind before your next WOF in Hamilton, swing by or give us a shout here. You’ll be back on the road, turning corners smoothly, with no fuss.