Factory tie rod ends - warranty?

[Rich o]

After reading up about the tie rod failures , I am wondering if Ford covers them under there warranty since I am buying a brand new truck off the lot.? Mine will be a unmolested street queen for a while anyway since it is my daily ..

Sponsored

 

[MileHighCitizen]

They've covered certain ones. There was a guy whose tie rod snapped in his driveway, he took pictures and it was covered. If they can tell it happened off road or from other impact then you're on your own.

If it happens when it shouldn't have ( which is very unlikely) then document it with pictures, that's your best bet. But metal parts usually don't just fail without cause.

 

[userdude]

I think it would depend, but the vast majority of broken tie rods I would hazard occurred in lifted Broncos with bigger tires than stock. They seem to bend/break mostly during heavy use where there's a bind (think sliding into a rock with the tire cocked to one side or forcibly moved) or when they drop (like in an off camber situation where the tire drops suddenly).

When you lift, you tend to move the tie rods from being almost level with the ground (good) to being at an angle (not good). So they're already at a disadvantage. Then put a bigger, heavier tire on it, you got a prime opportunity to break one given the right conditions (bind/drop).

If it's a 2024 w/Sasquatch or a Badlands (Sas or non-Sas) or WildTrak, you've got a much stronger rack with bigger tie rods. Not that there's no worry, but it's quite a bit less likely even with bigger tires.

Saying that, if you remain worried, I would grab a spare (it's the inners, the straight ones, not the outer crooked ones) and get the TD Industries tie rod kit (which you can buy spares from). It's just easier than waiting for a tow, unless you're only ever on road around town. If you're on road only, I wouldn't worry about it at all, or even really if you stick with general stock tire sizes/weights.

 

[andersman02]

I'm pretty sure the chances of breaking a tie rod on stock anything, on pavement, are near zero.

But, if it did happen I'd assume it'd be under warranty.

 

[Rich o]

I think it would depend, but the vast majority of broken tie rods I would hazard occurred in lifted Broncos with bigger tires than stock. They seem to bend/break mostly during heavy use where there's a bind (think sliding into a rock with the tire cocked to one side or forcibly moved) or when they drop (like in an off camber situation where the tire drops suddenly).

When you lift, you tend to move the tie rods from being almost level with the ground (good) to being at an angle (not good). So they're already at a disadvantage. Then put a bigger, heavier tire on it, you got a prime opportunity to break one given the right conditions (bind/drop).

If it's a 2024 w/Sasquatch or a Badlands (Sas or non-Sas) or WildTrak, you've got a much stronger rack with bigger tie rods. Not that there's no worry, but it's quite a bit less likely even with bigger tires.

Saying that, if you remain worried, I would grab a spare (it's the inners, the straight ones, not the outer crooked ones) and get the TD Industries tie rod kit (which you can buy spares from). It's just easier than waiting for a tow, unless you're only ever on road around town. If you're on road only, I wouldn't worry about it at all, or even really if you stick with general stock tire sizes/weights.

My target bronco is a loaded sasquatch but it is a 2023 . I assume they upgraded the system going into 2024 . I had planned on keeping drivetrain stock for now . At least until most of warranty is done...

 

[Ducati1098]

My target bronco is a loaded sasquatch but it is a 2023 . I assume they upgraded the system going into 2024 . I had planned on keeping drivetrain stock for now . At least until most of warranty is done...

If you get a 23 Wildtrak it’ll have the upgraded steering. Any other model will not.

 

[userdude]

My target bronco is a loaded sasquatch but it is a 2023 . I assume they upgraded the system going into 2024 . I had planned on keeping drivetrain stock for now . At least until most of warranty is done...

Only the WildTrak got the Severe Duty steering rack in 2023. I wouldn't be too concerned if you're doing light off roading at most and keep the stock suspension, wheels and tires. If you step up into moderate off roading, get the tie rod kit and a spare and watch a video for how to change one. Even then, it's probable you won't need it but it'll give you better piece of mind. It ain't the end of the world if you break or bend a tie rod.

 

[dgorsett]

I'm gonna jump in here to ask a stupid question, i spend enough time on 6g I should know the answer. In the tie rod/rack threads people refer to Hoss 1, 2 and 3 racks. In suspension there is a Hoss 1 (Hitachi) Hoss 2 (Bilstein) and Hoss 3 (Fox) but as far as I know only 2 steering racks/tie rods. All Broncos prior to Hoss 3 and the mentioned 24 models had a light duty rack/tie rods right? What am I missing.

 

[Brian_B]

I'm gonna jump in here to ask a stupid question, i spend enough time on 6g I should know the answer. In the tie rod/rack threads people refer to Hoss 1, 2 and 3 racks. In suspension there is a Hoss 1 (Hitachi) Hoss 2 (Bilstein) and Hoss 3 (Fox) but as far as I know only 2 steering racks/tie rods. All Broncos prior to Hoss 3 and the mentioned 24 models had a light duty rack/tie rods right? What am I missing.

I don't think you're missing anything. A lot of folks have upgraded to the Severe Duty steering rack though.

 

[dgorsett]

I don't think you're missing anything. A lot of folks have upgraded to the Severe Duty steering rack though.

Right. But folks seem to refer to three racks, Hoss 1, 2 and 3 and I believe there are only two.

 

[Brian_B]

Right. But folks seem to refer to three racks, Hoss 1, 2 and 3 and I believe there are only two.

I believe you are correct. Raptor and HOSS 3 are the Severe Duty, all others are just the mere meek and mortal steering rack

 

[userdude]

Right. But folks seem to refer to three racks, Hoss 1, 2 and 3 and I believe there are only two.

Those aren't racks per se, it's High Output Steering and Suspension Levels 1/2/3/4. The Severe Duty Steering System, featuring the Heavy Duty Steering Rack, is in HOSS 3.0 (WT only) and the BL and Sasquatch (the Bilstein ESC-V's instead of the Foxes) beginning in 2024. HOSS 4.0 is the Braptor active longarm suspension + HD rack. In a way, HOSS 2.0 in the BL is HOSS 2.0+ (2.5?) beginning in 2024.

I know it's confusing, but that's where we're at. HOSS is a marketing decision by Ford. I don't know if it predates the Bronco or not, but it seems like it was devised in part to sell Broncos.

I did think there was an even weaker rack (on road only? lighter smaller tires?) included in HOSS 1.0, but I'm probably wrong.

 

[dgorsett]

"I did think there was a weaker rack included in HOSS 1.0, but I'm probably wrong." I guess this is my point. I believe Hoss 1 and original Hoss 2 (BL and Sas) are light duty and Hoss 3, Raptor and '24 BL and Sas are heavy duty. And there really is no Hoss 2 rack.

 

[userdude]

"I did think there was a weaker rack included in HOSS 1.0, but I'm probably wrong." I guess this is my point. I believe Hoss 1 and original Hoss 2 (BL and Sas) are light duty and Hoss 3, Raptor and '24 BL and Sas are heavy duty. And there really is no Hoss 2 rack.

There is a HOSS 2.0 rack, the one in HOSS 2.0. I don't know if there's a different one in HOSS 1.0, but that's really about the lesser suspension. So HOSS 1.0 is lesser suspension (than 2), HOSS 2.0 is lesser steering and suspension (than 3.0, except! the exceptions with better the HD rack), and HOSS 3.0 is lesser suspension (than 4).

I've advocated not referring to HOSS 2.0/3.0 (why the .0 too??) steering racks, instead using Standard and Heavy Duty racks since I think that's what the actual rack is referred to as a part. (I don't know for certain what the HOSS 1/2 racks are called, I just refer to them as standard duty.) However, it's all very confusing so I just try to see what the person means.

Wondering what @Ducati1098 and/or @RagnarKon thinks now. I would think they'd be able to confirm the 1.0 rack thing and what the part names are.

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

I don't need no stinkin' numbers. OG HOSS FTW!

Sponsored