A safe way to check you T/rods is have the car on the ground , have some one shake the steering wheel side to side to take you the play in the rack. (having the car up on the hoist the wheels and suspension drop and hang can take up any play in the steering componets)
Put youe hand over the outter T/rod and feel if there is any play, then move to the inner T/rod
and feel if there is any clicking in the rod, this will mean ther is play.
By law in Canada there is Zero amount of play in T/rod for a safety Inspection

And if you find any play its best to change asap as it will affect other componets

Rule of thumb

1oz of imbalance in the front end @ 70kms equalls 10pounds of force on that part

 

thanks for all the info so far guys. Ever since i've installed springs, i've noticed while taking corners, i felt the car sort of wiggle just slightly? but it feels like its from the back? Today i've jacked up one side of the car and wiggle the wheel left and right. I noticed about a 1/4 inch of play. Also is the tie rod the black rod on the upper top part of the suspension? Is it hard to replace? I've got the mechanical skills to do my springs my self btw.

 

got my alignment done from big O tires for 65 dollars. They had a "newer and the more expensive" alignment machine than most places in our small town did.

 

That special alignment tool they needed is a 3-D alignment tool. I needed it as well and what it does is it has sensors on all four wheels that reflect back to a main sensor in front of the car that gives them the reading of how bad the wheels are off.

 

Hey droo,

Replacing my tie rod ends is the first work I've ever done on a car (besides oil changes) and it was easy. As many can on this board can attest, I am quite proud of myself since I constantly bring it up 8)

Here is the thread that I started concerning the replacement. Jest posted a link to the replacement procedure in the thread. Here you go....

https://www.audiforums.com/fb.asp?m=66275