987 Tie Rod issue...something I need to worry about?

[David Nerenberg]

I have a 2006 boxster with 53,000 miles on it that just passed state inspection about a couple months ago. I bought it used earlier this year and it has always had an off center steering wheel. The car does not pull right unless i put the wheel straight. No vibration or sounds at all but the mechanic I brought it to says the inner and outer tie rods need to be replaced with an alignment.

 

Does anything think they would be wrong and it would just need an alignment or could something else be wrong with no vibration, no pulling and no noise?

 

If they are right, is it dangerous to drive on?

[JFP in PA]

I have a 2006 boxster with 53,000 miles on it that just passed state inspection about a couple months ago. I bought it used earlier this year and it has always had an off center steering wheel. The car does not pull right unless i put the wheel straight. No vibration or sounds at all but the mechanic I brought it to says the inner and outer tie rods need to be replaced with an alignment.

 

Does anything think they would be wrong and it would just need an alignment or could something else be wrong with no vibration, no pulling and no noise?

 

If they are right, is it dangerous to drive on?

 

Hard to say without actually seeing the car.  First of all, and off center steering wheel is a mechanical alignment adjustment that typically does not require replacing parts unless there are other underlying parts problems (e.g.: loose tie rod ends), which would also usually cause other noticeable problems like wheel shimmy or strange steering feel.

 

I would suggest taking the car to another shop that specializes in Porsches and have them look at it; it is probably not a dangerous issue, but it should be investigated.