What's the consensus on tie rod issues for MY 22.5 and newer?

tn3sport · Jan 4, 2023

Are the tie rod failures and issues still a significant weak point in the MY 22.5 and newer builds?
I have a MY 2022.5 Badlands Sas and was going to toss a replacement stock inner tie rod in the truck in the event I experienced the infamous failure while on the trail.... However, when I went to order, I noticed the part number at Ford is only for MY 2021. Appears its a newer part for 2022. Does this mean Ford upgraded the part for MY 2022 and beyond?

There seems to be much less noise about tie rod failures hitting the forums and YT. Do I still need to prepare for an impending part failure?

I know I can add a brace as little as $50 to sure up the threads. (I actually prefer to carry a spare stock part and just be prepared for a trail-side repair.
I really wanted to know if issue has been addressed on the newer models by Ford releasing a stronger part.... Kinda like they fixed the dropped valve issue in their engines early on.... Or are people still breaking tie rods on relatively mundane wheel forces????

prospectfour · Jan 4, 2023

tn3sport said:
Are the tie rod failures and issues still a significant weak point in the MY 22.5 and newer builds?
I have a MY 2022.5 Badlands Sas and was going to toss a replacement stock inner tie rod in the truck in the event I experienced the infamous failure while on the trail.... However, when I went to order, I noticed the part number at Ford is only for MY 2021. Appears its a newer part for 2022. Does this mean Ford upgraded the part for MY 2022 and beyond?

There seems to be much less noise about tie rod failures hitting the forums and YT. Do I still need to prepare for an impending part failure?

I know I can add a brace as little as $50 to sure up the threads. (I actually prefer to carry a spare stock part and just be prepared for a trail-side repair.
I really wanted to know if issue has been addressed on the newer models by Ford releasing a stronger part.... Kinda like they fixed the dropped valve issue in their engines early on.... Or are people still breaking tie rods on relatively mundane wheel forces????

I think peak tie rod failure was the guy who claimed to snap one in his driveway. That seemed like a isolated incident and I haven't heard too much since then. The guys who are pushing their Bronco that hard off-road have already seem to have either reinforced it or carry a spare kit.

I'd say unless you're going to be an off-road hero you don't have much to worry about.

RHeinz · Jan 4, 2023

I agree with prospectfour. There just haven’t been that many reported failures from folks doing ”normal” four wheeling. I did however purchase a spare from AutoZone that fits a 2004 Ranger pickup truck based on the research done by this forum’s members. It was less than $40 bare bones (no boot).

KPLOBX · Jan 4, 2023

tn3sport said:
Are the tie rod failures and issues still a significant weak point in the MY 22.5 and newer builds?
I have a MY 2022.5 Badlands Sas and was going to toss a replacement stock inner tie rod in the truck in the event I experienced the infamous failure while on the trail.... However, when I went to order, I noticed the part number at Ford is only for MY 2021. Appears its a newer part for 2022. Does this mean Ford upgraded the part for MY 2022 and beyond?

There seems to be much less noise about tie rod failures hitting the forums and YT. Do I still need to prepare for an impending part failure?

I know I can add a brace as little as $50 to sure up the threads. (I actually prefer to carry a spare stock part and just be prepared for a trail-side repair.
I really wanted to know if issue has been addressed on the newer models by Ford releasing a stronger part.... Kinda like they fixed the dropped valve issue in their engines early on.... Or are people still breaking tie rods on relatively mundane wheel forces????

Can anyone confirm that 22.5 tie rods are different/better than 2021?

Tricky Dick · Jan 4, 2023

In my personal opinion even for 21-22 it's not a huge concern until you're into big lifts and tires - depending how throttle happy you are. I believe it's prudent for everyone to carry a spare though, just in case, because it's cheap insurance against an expensive offroad recovery.

Ground_zero298 · Jan 4, 2023

For normal use and normal off road stocks should be fine. You start getting extreme the steering rack upgrade is justified. Lack of current complaints is from actual lift kits becoming available. Most failures were people with the half ass perch kits and 37’s.

Personally I went with a set of rpg upgraded rods and will wait til someone releases a better rack at a decent price point this year.

Tricky Dick · Jan 4, 2023

Based on this it would appear there are 4 different tie rods. Hmmm.

Tricky Dick · Jan 4, 2023

@flip posted these in another thread.

KPLOBX · Jan 4, 2023

Two different jam nuts too.. does this mean thread size changed? How can we verify?

KPLOBX · Jan 4, 2023

Tricky Dick said:
@flip posted these in another thread.

What is Adrenaline Package? Is that the same as the Pucker Package?

Tricky Dick · Jan 4, 2023

KPLOBX said:
Two different jam nuts too.. does this mean thread size changed? How can we verify?

It did for Hoss 3.0 for sure. 14mm > 16mm IIRC

DUSTYcazOREGON · Jan 4, 2023

prospectfour said:
I think peak tie rod failure was the guy who claimed to snap one in his driveway. That seemed like a isolated incident and I haven't heard too much since then. The guys who are pushing their Bronco that hard off-road have already seem to have either reinforced it or carry a spare kit.

I'd say unless you're going to be an off-road hero you don't have much to worry about.

I agree here. I did add the Bronco Buster Brace more as "insurance" than anything else. Thats said, push it to the limits....something can go wrong. I wonder how many that have broke their tie rods have; lifts, larger wheels, oversized tires? When you do some of that you change the angle and stress points on the tire rod. I don't know crap about this, but, I would assume that if you do any modification that is going to add stress or change the stress to the tie rod...well, you may need to upgrade the tie rod and associated assembly as well.

mike8675309 · Jan 4, 2023

KPLOBX said:
Can anyone confirm that 22.5 tie rods are different/better than 2021?

They are not different, there is not a problem with tie rod ends with stock suspension and wheels/tires. If you lift your vehicle, you must always be mindful of tie rod angles, even on a jeep.

The one unique issue with the bronco for lifted vehicles is that excess tie rod angle can put pressure on the steering rack, causing it to cam out, breaking the rack. There are companies (or maybe one) that made a bushing you can insert into your rack that better applies the stress and reduces the opportunity for camming out.

The Raptor has larger tie rods, and a stronger steering rack, though that comes with 37's from the factory.

DaBroncstah · Jan 4, 2023

prospectfour said:
I think peak tie rod failure was the guy who claimed to snap one in his driveway. That seemed like a isolated incident and I haven't heard too much since then. The guys who are pushing their Bronco that hard off-road have already seem to have either reinforced it or carry a spare kit.

I'd say unless you're going to be an off-road hero you don't have much to worry about.

As the “guy” who had the driveway incident I have to say that the tie rods are not a big deal, don’t let what happened to me scare you!!! These broncos are extremely capable and were designed very well.

My incident was isolated and I’ve been off-roading twice now on some pretty decently difficult terrain and no problems whatsoever.

I’m running the non sas stock BD tires and I’m not upgrading to new tie rods. We went wheeling with Vaughn and the problem is that, when you replace your tie rods with something stronger, when you get in a pickle and your tie rods don’t snap, then your steering rack is next. Which is very costly and is what happened to Vaughn’s fun-runner when we were out there!!!

So what I’m doing is, when I upgrade to 35s, I’ll put on the cheaper braces I got and use those. But the tie rods are designed the way they are for a reason so don’t forget that.

DaBroncstah · Jan 4, 2023

DaBroncstah said:
As the “guy” who had the driveway incident I have to say that the tie rods are not a big deal, don’t let what happened to me scare you!!! These broncos are extremely capable and were designed very well.

My incident was isolated and I’ve been off-roading twice now on some pretty decently difficult terrain and no problems whatsoever.

I’m running the non sas stock BD tires and I’m not upgrading to new tie rods. We went wheeling with Vaughn and the problem is that, when you replace your tie rods with something stronger, when you get in a pickle and your tie rods don’t snap, then your steering rack is next. Which is very costly and is what happened to Vaughn’s fun-runner when we were out there!!!

So what I’m doing is, when I upgrade to 35s, I’ll put on the cheaper braces I got and use those. But the tie rods are designed the way they are for a reason so don’t forget that.

I still have no real idea why mine snapped when it did, but I didn’t post that to crap on Ford I just wanted to see what forum members had to say about what could have caused that to happen.

These Broncos really are incredible and if anything, the fact that the tie rod snapped in my driveway and not on the road makes me love mine even more

What's the consensus on tie rod issues for MY 22.5 and newer?

tn3sport

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prospectfour

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RHeinz

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KPLOBX

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Tricky Dick

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Ground_zero298

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Tricky Dick

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Tricky Dick

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KPLOBX

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KPLOBX

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Tricky Dick

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DUSTYcazOREGON

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mike8675309

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DaBroncstah

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DaBroncstah

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