1988 s4 n/a Gxl with power steering.
I'm looking around for some new tie rods because mine are toast. I'm getting violent shaking and both grease boots are destroyed.

I was under the impression that MOOG was one of the best when it came to suspension / steering. I was searching up on rock auto and found them for sale.







2 questions

1. For the inner and outter tie rods on our cars do side matter? Or do I just order 2 inner and 2 outter?

2. I see this brand raybestos, slightly more expensive so I did a little googling. From what I've read raybestos is quality stuff and moog is going down in quality (hoping not because I just did my ball joints with moogs.)


Any insight? Thanks. Id rather order parts before my tie rod breaks and I end up in a wall

 

If it matters I plan on tracking / autocrossing / weekend warrior-ing this car. So I would prefer to not buy cheap ****. I want to sort out all suspension before doing my t2 swap

 

I've used both with great success. Raybestos more for brake pads though. Moog has always (in my book) been the leader in suspension and steering parts.

Here's an example:
After 50k miles, Ford trucks wear out their ball joints. Some less, some more, but they do wear out around that vicinity. I replace them with Moog parts and never see them come in my shop for suspension problems again.

 

Do the inners wear at the same rate as outer? My inners seem fine. Car has 162k. I think the PO changed the outers.

 

How can you tell when the inners are bad? I just assumed that since my outters were bad and they both seem to be the same age that it was time to do both at once

 

I placed my hand on the inner and had my son giggle the steerring wheel. Not to precies, but found a bad one that way on my wifes Honda Pilot.

 

With the outers the Madza OEM tie rods are manufactured with self contained grease.
The Aftermarket Tie rods you can purchase,some have a grease nipple for lubrication.
I went OEM but if I had to buy again I would get the aftermarkets with the ability to lube the tie rod end when needed.

 

Ok. So my second question has been answered. But my first question.
Are they interchangeable?

 

you can look up the parts numbers on Foxed.ca