Ball Joints and Tie Rods

• OE replacement ball joints: Hardrace front lower ball joints, such as the Ford Focus (MK2) and Volvo S40/V50/C30 (MW) and C70 (542) fitment.
• Camber adjustable ball joints: Hardrace front ball joints for the Volkswagen Golf R (MK5 to MK8), Audi S3/RS3 (8Y) and A3, and Skoda Octavia on PQ35 and MQB platforms. They add camber adjustment at the ball joint.
• Bumpsteer adjustable outer tie rod ends: SPL Parts tie rod ends that let the outer tie rod height be set to suit a lowered ride height.
• Roll-centre and inverted tie rod ends: Hardrace RC tie rod ends with pillow ball joints for the Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI, and inverted tie rod ends for the Nissan Silvia, 180SX and 200SX.
• Hard tie rods: Hardrace hard tie rods for the Nissan Silvia, 180SX and 200SX (S13/S14/S15) and Honda Integra (DC2) and Civic (EG/EH/EJ).
• Replacement ball joints and pillow ball rod ends: service parts for Hardrace arms, each matched to the Hardrace part number they suit.

Related ranges: Control Arms, Camber Arms, Toe Arms, Alignment Kits, Bushings, Sway Bar End Links, Coilovers and Lowering Springs.

Start with your chassis code. Listings are split by platform, and a joint or tie rod for one generation will not necessarily suit the next. Codes covered in this range include:

• Nissan Silvia, 180SX and 200SX (S13/S14/S15), 350Z (Z33), 370Z (Z34), GT-R (R35) and Skyline (R32)
• Mazda MX-5 (NA/NB/NC) and RX-8
• Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, and Toyota GR Supra (A90) and BMW Z4 (G29)
• BMW 1 Series (E8X) and 3 Series (E9X), Porsche 911 (991) and Boxster/Cayman (982/718), and Ford Mustang (S550)
• Subaru Impreza WRX and WRX STI, Honda Integra (DC2) and Civic (EG/EH/EJ)
• Volkswagen Golf R, Audi S3/RS3 and A3, Skoda Octavia, Ford Focus (MK2) and Volvo S40/V50/C30/C70

Some listings have further conditions to check:

• Steering rack type. MX-5 (NA/NB) tie rod ends are listed separately for manual and power steering racks.
• Drivetrain. R32 Skyline outer tie rod ends are listed for RWD models.
• Hardrace part number. Replacement ball joints and pillow ball rod ends are matched to the Hardrace arm they suit (for example Q0774 or Q1097), so check the part number on your existing arm.
• Facelift changes. Taper size and tie rod thread pitch can change across a facelift even when the car looks identical, so confirm year and model against the listing before ordering.

Choose bumpsteer adjustable or roll-centre tie rod ends for lowered cars where the steering geometry has moved away from standard. Like-for-like replacement parts suit a stock or mildly modified car.

Installation by a professional is recommended.

The job typically needs:

• a ball joint press or separator
• a torque wrench
• fresh cotter pins or lock nuts where the design calls for them

A wheel alignment afterwards is essential. Toe, and often camber, will need resetting once a tie rod or ball joint is replaced or adjusted. While the front end is apart, it is worth checking wheel bearings, boots and bushings, since they tend to wear on a similar timeline.

Do I need an alignment after replacing a tie rod or ball joint? Yes. Replacing or adjusting a tie rod changes toe, and camber often shifts with it, so have the car aligned before driving it normally.

What does a bumpsteer adjustable tie rod end do? It lets the height of the outer tie rod be adjusted, so steering geometry can be brought back closer to standard after a car has been lowered.

How do I make sure a part suits my car? Match your chassis code, model year and any listed conditions, such as manual or power steering rack, or RWD, against the product listing before ordering.

Do ball joints and tie rods wear out together? Often, yes. They see similar loads and conditions, so many owners replace them at the same time to avoid taking the front end apart twice.