Tie Rods with Ends - Right or left

These two rods go from the center pin on a Bus or the pitman arm on a Bug, to the spindles, making the car turn. To inspect the rods, have a friend turn the steering wheel back and forth a little while you place your hand on the top of one of the tie rod ends. If you can feel the end jump up and down before it pushes or pulls, it's bad. On some tie rods it's possible to change just the ends. On other tie rods, the ends are swedged on and the whole tie rod will need to be replaced. Usually you replace just the end unless the rod is bent or has the swedged ends.