My 08 LR3 has 87k miles on it which I recently had inspected. The inspection required me to replace my inner/outer tie rods and also recommended to have an alignment performed which seems to be the common practice with these replacements. After getting my LR3 back, the truck now pulls slightly to the left as well as a difference in steering wheel tension between turning right and left (left is looser). I brought the truck back to be re-aligned which found the original alignment was not performed properly. After getting the truck back a 2nd time the issue is a little better but is not back to where the steering was prior to having the LR3's tie rods replaced. Anybody have any thoughts on what could be causing the issue?

 

Who is doing this alignment?

....what exactly are the "outer" tie-rods on the LR3? I have looked for them on the exploded parts diagram and don't see them.

 

Dealer serviced or independent?
Either way it should go back. Independent might not know how to align it and dealer may have been careless.

 

Part number QFK500010 is what I call the left inner tie rod end.
Part number QFK500020 is what I call the right inner tie rod end.

As for outer tie rod ends, fortunately I do not know what those are - yet!

The reason I know about the inner units is it seems my 3 wants new ones with every third oil change - well it seems that way.

And yes, each time, a full four wheel alignment and on occasion a second try as the steering wheel is a bit off but the vehicle tracks well and tyre wear is as it should be.

Wheel alignment on a 3 is an art I believe. I do not think one can just go by the numbers, so to speak - the guy doing it has to "speak" Land Rover; the specs are provided by LR just to mess up those without the proper accent.

Even this business of "tight mode" re the wheel alignment is a question - some say it has to be, others say no. Myself, I think the no group knows how to get the desired results because of experience; the yes group tends to more follow the book but with a bit of art as well. Most often, either approach seems to succeed.

 

Maybe folks are referring to the Tie-Rod Ends as "Outer" Tie-Rods....???

 

I am inclined to agree. My Land Rover invoice refers to part number QFK500020 as ROD-SPINDLE CO

I note that the Miami British link below refers to them as inner steering rod ends but I do not think there is anything called "Outer".

LAND ROVER CONNECTING INNER STEERING TIE ROD END SET LR3 QFK500010 QFK500020 OEM | Miami British

 

All work was done by the LR dealer. I will have to check the invoice when i get home but i thought they reference a kit needed to be purchased for both inner and outer tie rods.

 

Land Rover has a kit for each side separately. The kit(s) may include the tie rod itself, the associated rubber boot, and the respective tie rod end.

There would be a kit for the left side and the right side.

The image in the Miami British link above shows the items separately.

 

Yup Yup, do the kit... Order the OEM.

 

Lets not make this difficult, we don't call them "spindle rods".
3A130A is the "inner" tie rod end.
3A130C is the "outer" tie rod end

As far as the part numbers, the outers are interchangable from left to right and are: QJB 500010, however, they are often sold as a kit (rod end + nuts), callout 3A130D, part number LR0 10671