OUTER TIE ROD ENDS

I WAS OUT WHEELING THE OTHER DAY IN MY 21 TRD ORP. I HAVE A BP-51 SUSPENSION FROMT AND REAR, FULLY ARMORED UP AND LOADED DOWN WITH ALL MY GEAR. SO I GOT STUCK A COUPLE TIMES AND HAD TO WINCH MYSELF OUT.WHEN THE REA END POPPED OVER THE MASSIVE ROOT THAT WAS PREVENTING ME FROM GETTING OUT OF THE DEEP RUT MY RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND TIRE BOUNCED OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT MY SAFTEY SENSE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHTS TOOK OVER MY DASH AND MY STEERING WHEEL WAS KNOCKED OFF CENTER. I WORK A TOYOTA DEALER AND OUR TECHS SAID THAT BOTH OF MY TIE ROD ENDS ARE BENT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED.
MY QUESTION IS , IS THIS A WEAK POINT IN THE FRONT END, DOES THS HAPPEN OFTEN? IS THERE A STRONGER OPTION OUT THERE THAT IS BETTER THAN STOCK?

THANK YOU,

DAVID

 

Under those circumstances, I'd rather bend a tie rod than damage what it's connected to. (Although I wouldn't rule out both happening).

 

Sorry about your damage. Hard to say if it’s weak, since winching can really put some unnatural forces on everything. If the vehicle is held down tight, I’d imagine it’s possible to damage anything on the vehicle.

There have been some folks that put beefier tundra steering racks. Doable, but not cheap or easy.

But I think I’d prefer bending tie rods in order to protect the more expensive parts.

edit: to answer more directly, there has been at least one forum member that blew out much of his steering system from hitting a rock too fast. In that case, the hit wrenched the wheel from his hand and caused a bunch of damage. There might be something to the steering being on the tender side on 4runners. Especially once you have bigger tires that poke, since that gives any impacts more leverage over the system.

 

BETTER THE TIE RODS THAN A STEERING KNUCKLE OR RACK.

 

correct, cheaper to replace a tie rod than a rack.

 

I heard a guy from Barlow Adventures out of Moab state that those really are the most common point of failure for 4Runner on their guided trips.

 

Damn sorry to hear, pretty cool story tho at least lookin back.. After enough time has passed since the replacement costs haha.
Inner rods & bellows + outer rods w/ ball joints were surprisingly affordable and easy, I found, even in British Columbia.
Helped to have an account discount at local auto parts store, cuz if we're talking about OEM, inner rods were pricey AF I couldn't do it. Goodluck!

 

I think your best bet even though your fully armored, is more armor. Maybe LCA and shock mount skids can help in circumstances