Bent Outer Tie Rod

I have a 300km trip later and I just found out my 2018 JB43's passenger (right) side tie rod looks a bit bent on the threads. There are times where my steering wobbles going 80kmh but sometimes it feels very little (I've read that it's a common issue with the Jimny). I just wanted to ask if this is still safe to drive for the road trip?

that looks properly bent, that's a first for me.

no one can tell you that is safe or not, without taking it a part and inspecting, I would not risk it.

The nut should be square to and tightened against the bar. That it's visibly not isn't good, I'd have been getting that replaced and then the alignment done.

Nothing is actually bent here, it's just that the nut is loose and the male thread has ben fretting against the female thread of the bar and the result is the threads have been worn away and the debris has rusted, hence the brown discolouration. This deserves it's place in a museum.

Roger

I would not be too worried with wheel alignment if you can measure the position and length of the old tie rod end, and replace with a new one of the same length and position. You can also count the turns when you unscrew the old and screw the new one in the same amount of turns and check measurements.

If the old one is loose then you do not know and, you will need a new alignment.

Done this on a few cars.
Also been checking toe-in myself to see if it is way off.

Been Lucky or meticolous I guess, never had to get alignment done on any SJ or Jimny.
On the vw though I think I done it every other year or so and still it eats tyres.

yakuza wrote:

Been Lucky or meticolous I guess, never had to get alignment done on any SJ or Jimny.
On the vw though I think I done it every other year or so and still it eats tyres.
 

In my experience "independent suspension" eats tyres by knocking the edges off, because they are never at the correct angle to the road surface. Beam axles like on the Jimny wear the tyres dead flat across, unless the toe in is miles out,