Can I drive with a broken tie rod to get it repaired?
A broken tie rod means you have completely lost steering control of that wheel, making it unsafe to drive even short distances. Attempting to move the vehicle risks total wheel detachment and should be avoided until the part is replaced.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1getting towed
- 2not driving it
- 3limiting driving to emergencies only
- 4taking corners lightly if driving
- 5checking the joint for play
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Noticed a weird sound as I was parking at work. Looked under and saw this metal part hanging next to the front right tir3.”source ↗
“I have a new tie rod coming in. [...] The new tie rod is coming on Saturday and we are swapping it then getting an alignment. My gym is about 20 miles away and I would like to go this week if it is safe.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Why didn't my mechanic catch a rusted control arm?
- 2Is it safe to drive with broken shock absorbers?
- 2Cracked engine head while torquing oil pressure sensor
- 2Why does a newly replaced driveshaft keep failing?
- 4Why is my steering wheel making noise when turning?
- 4Why is my steering stiff after a CV axle replacement?