If your steering is loose and hard to control then your tie rods are probably bad. It's dangerous driving your car and can cause a terrible accident hurting or killing yourself and others. Your steering should be tight and when you take your hand off the wheel for a second, it shouldn't sway to one side more than a few inches.
The steering is made up of tie rods, struts, a center link and other parts. You need these parts in good condition to control the steering. If you drive an older car these parts are getting worn. Cars on the east coast wear out faster due to the snow and ice from salt put on the roads.
The salt rusts out the under-parts and exterior of a car unless they are rust-proofed. Take your car to a repair shop and have them look underneath it for loose or rusty parts. Make sure the mechanic shows you the wear and tear on your vehicle.
If a tie rod breaks while you're driving, you can't control the steering and it wobbles fast and hard and can end up head on with another vehicle. There are many accidents due to this type of problem. There is no warning except for the loose steering and maybe someone telling you your tie rods are bad.
You can be driving down the road and all of a sudden the car spins out of control, so get your tie rods and the complete front end checked out. A good mechanic will show you in detail what's causing your steering problem. Having tie rods replaced is reasonably priced, depending on where you go.
It's best to stay away from the franchises because the guys they hire are not considered qualified mechanics. You are putting your life in the hands of a young person working his way through college. Look for a good independent mechanic shop that is ASE Certified with several years experience.
If you have a friend or a family member that knows about cars, have them look at it and get their advice before taking the car in. You should get three different opinions before letting them work on your car. Don't settle for the first one unless they were recommended by someone who had work done and was pleased.
It is recommended that you check the price for parts yourself to compare with the repair shop, that way you'll know how much they mark up the parts. Ask them why their parts are more than the retail cost when they are charging you for labor as it is. The best auto repair shops with a good reputation won't do that. If you believe you have bad tie rods, get them replaced for your safely.
