Just as the title says.......2 weeks ago I noticed creaking sounds coming from the passenger side of the front end when making turns, either left or right. I also heard rattling/thumping every time I hit a bump.
So when I got a chance last week I put it up on the lift to check every bolt and nut that I touched during the front end up grades i did and didn't find anything loose. I never did anything to the tie rod ends but something told me to check the nuts. I was able to turn the passenger side nut at least 4 full turns and it still wanted to turn some more.
I get a hold of an impact gun and tightened up the nut.
Now I remove the drivers side wheel to check the tie rod nut and that was tight and couldn't turn it. I did however notice that maybe a 1/4" of threaded stud was showing on the drivers side and i had a 1/2" of threaded stud showing on the passenger side.
Anyway I removed the nut on the pass side, put a couple of drops of LocTite medium on the threads and tightened up the nut with an impact gun. Drove it and the creaking / rattling noise was gone. OK...I got it.
Less then 3 days later the noise is back. So yesterday I pulled it apart and was able to AGAIN pull up at least 3 full turns on the tie rod nut. Put the wheel back on, drive it a couple of blocks, noise is again gone.
I shower up, go out to get a few groceries and by the time i get to the store the noise is back. I highly doubt it loosened up again and with my luck I'll have the passenger side tie rod end break while I'm driving. So I have come to the conclusion that I'm going to have to replace both tie rod ends and get it realigned.

Any ideas or suggestions as to why it keep loosening up?

I lowered the car but I don't think I dropped it that much where it would affect the tie rods.

 

Tie rod ends are held on with castle nuts and cotter pins to prevent them from turning. Missing cotter pins maybe?

Dope

 

No clue but if you find out, please tell us. I'm fixing to replace my entire steering rack along with one of the outer tie rod ends(passenger side, due to the seal is trashed). I'm replacing the rack due to I wore it out! Its making a small click/clunk sound when rocking the steering back and forth with the engine off.

 

Nope, I do believe these tie rod ends are original to the car as there is no castle nut and cotter pin or hole through the stud and there is no mention of a castle nut or cotter pin in the OEM Manual.
Upper and lower ball joints are the same, no castle nut and cotter pin .

 

Also want to add that it was suggested to me that maybe the steering knuckle is cracked where the tie rod end bolts too.

 

Not on my car. I have the oblong locking nuts and I believe they are OEM.

 

Yup, same here !

 

Its possible your use of the impact gun caused or perhaps exacerbated the problem. Those nuts are suppose to be torqued in a specific 3 step process:
- 1st pass torque to 15 lb ft
- 2nd pass turn the nut 160 degrees
- 3rd pass go to 33 lb ft
Using an impact gun could easily over torque them. The knuckles could indeed be damaged. At any rate, if you get new tie rod ends get the heavy duty ones from Ecklers, they have the aforementioned castle nut and cotter pin, as well as zerk fittings for grease.

 

Interesting, I must have replaced my tie rod ends at some point in the last decade.

If they just take regular nuts, maybe try buying some nylon locknuts? Try red loctite instead of blue? That stuff is mean.

Dope

 

Yes It could have made the problem worse. I won't know exactly what I got until I tear it apart. I got some Magnaflux Dye Check stuff from work for locating cracks. I give it a try and see if indeed something is cracked.
No sense installing new tie rod ends only to find I have to replace the knuckle.

 

I have just installed the Pfadt, JOC front and rear sway bars, end links + new shocks in an attempt to cure my suspension creaks and groans.

Today went to Ecklers Corvette and ordered more suspension stuff as I still have the suspension groans which is irritating the crap out of me.

On order are :-

Corvette Control Arm Bushing Kit, Front, Polyurethane, 1997-2004 41570
Corvette Ball Joint, Front, Lower, 1997-2004 50881
Corvette Tie Rod End, Outer, Front, Hi-Performance, 1997-2011 44432

I hope this fixes the groaning of the suspension.

 

Been doing a little research and I found something interesting :

Moog Tie Rod End # ES2231RL

Fits the following 1984-2009 Chevrolet Corvette submodels:
2009-2009: ZR1; 8 Cyl 6.2L; "Gas, FI, LS9, Supercharged, VIN R"
2008-2009: Base; 8 Cyl 6.2L; "GAS, FI, LS3, Naturally Aspirated, VIN W"
2006-2009: Z06; 8 Cyl 7.0L; "GAS, FI, Naturally Aspirated, VIN E"
2008-2008: 427 Limited Edition Z06; 8 Cyl 7.0L; "GAS, FI, Naturally Aspirated, VIN E"
2005-2007: Base; 8 Cyl 6.0L; "Gas, FI, Naturally Aspirated, VIN U"
2001-2004: Z06; 8 Cyl 5.7L; "Gas, FI, Naturally Aspirated, VIN S"
1997-2004: Base; 8 Cyl 5.7L; "GAS, FI, Naturally Aspirated, VIN G"
2003-2003: 50th Anniversary Edition Pace Car; 8 Cyl 5.7L; "GAS, FI, Naturally Aspirated, VIN G"
2003-2003: 50th Anniversary Edition; 8 Cyl 5.7L; "GAS, FI, Naturally Aspirated, VIN G"
1998-1998: Indianapolis 500 Pace Car; 8 Cyl 5.7L; "GAS, FI, Naturally Aspirated, VIN G"

1984-1985: Base; 8 Cyl 5.7L; "GAS, FI, Naturally Aspirated, VIN 8"


84-85 C4 Tie Rod Ends fit most C5's & C6's up to 2009

 

I to have the same sound but can't find anything out of place. Let us know what you find out.

 

Well I'm 100% certain it's the passenger Tie Rod End. I have tightened it twice, both times the creaking / clunking sound went away and came back. What else could it be after going over every other nut and bolt on the suspension and not finding anything else loose ?

 

You jack the car up to do this, right? Maybe after the car settles back down the original noise returns because all the suspension parts not in the normal position and soon they settle back in the normal position. Just saying... maybe an explaination???


HTH

 

It could very well be so what I plan on doing is once I have replaced the tie rod ends, I'll lower the car off of the lift so the tires will sit 12 x 12 timber blocks I have and then with the full weight on the suspension I'll torque them down according to the manual.

 

I just got tie rod ends for my '99 from Napa but they not the sealed ones, therefore grease fittings on them.

 

What did they charge you for the pair?

I called EVERY Auto Parts store within a 20 mile radius of my house on Saturday and NO ONE had them in stock and had to be ordered. I also got prices anywhere from $50 to $113 EACH

 

I got mine here :-

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1997-2011.html

 

I just order the same only a few minutes ago !
I just hope they are not made in Indonesia or some other 3 world country like that !