2011 Prius Tire Rod Help!

I'd just replace the one tie rod end and have the alignment checked and reset.

The other tie rod and the rack and pinion can wait unless they are defective,

 

Little reticent to say this, but to keep it running great I’d look into cleaning the carbon accumulations in the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system, and intake manifold. If this is neglected 3rd gens are prone to blow head gasket, quite reliably, anywhere around 120k~200k.

what’s your situation; are you able to DIY moderately involved mechanical maintenance, say an oil change? Or in touch with someone who could?

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Toyota dealership is the last place you want to go for this btw; they’re hopeless.

 

In most of my other vehicles Corollas included when I get to this point with rack ends the ones that are built on or screwed on to the rack . It's usually been cheaper for me to take a rebuilt rack which generally comes with the outer tie rods boots and everything for one price literally for most of these is like 119 to 156 depending upon where you buy this is a remanufactured of course and these were regular Toyota power and some non-power rack and pinions I'm not sure on the Prius if much of this has changed. I have replaced inner ends before. You have to unpeen a washer to be able to unscrew the end that you want to replace off of the rack itself and then when you replace the end you have to peen over the edges of the new washer essentially to lock it down other than that it's a pretty easy job you're either under a lift or on your back on ramps either way and if you're going to waste the time to do this I would say do the inner and outer on the side that is a problem or if you have nothing else to do put all four on just make sure your rack doesn't have any slop in it. Old racks had a big hex right there where the steering shaft would connect that you could adjust slop in the rack itself I do not know if newer racks have this adjustment.?

 

I wouldn't worry about it unless you're getting bad vibrations/noise while driving it. But if you do want to fix it, it isn't hard. Just need a tie rod tool.

 

It's extremly unlikely the inner tie rod would be bad. It's the outer ones
that move a lot more and take the brunt of the stress.
Does the steering feel solid? Do you feel any "play" if you move the
steering wheel left and right an inch or two?
With the low mileage, I would think you are fine. You could go to an independent place
and ask them about the tie rods, don't tell them what the other place said....
See what the come up with.

 

At 1500 miles per year, I would do nothing until I feel significant play in the steering wheel. The worst that happens right now is some uneven wear on that tire and with the miles you drive that wouldn't even be noticed for a good 4-5 years if you didn't do any tire rotations.
Stay away from that dealership!
I have an old 99 Sonoma pickup with 185k miles that I use only to haul off trash, and pick up anything I can't get into my Prius. It has a LOT of loose play in the steering wheel....since I drive it so little I have elected to not repair it and to just buy it a used tire every few years.

 

What I don't like is when the inner rackins get a little slop on the ball end the inner part when you move the steering wheel with the car sitting you hear a faint clunk clunk as you go back and forth and when you pull that mess apart and you have the outer tie rod end undone and you reach up in there and grab the inner tie rod end by the threads that the outer tie rod end was screwed onto and you gently push and pull on that threaded piece of rod you will feel the clunk clunk at this time on the older racks I would undo the big lock ring pull out the adjuster piece put some grease on it put it back in its hole and then adjust that I think with a 22 mm external hex wrench to take the slop out of the rack itself I would do this after I put the inner and outer ends on so I'm not twisting on the rack or anything All that's done. I don't know if these Prius racks still have that adjustment have no idea.

 

If you haven't noticed any changes in steering, tire wear, or pulling to either side, I would forget what the dealer said and keep driving your car. The dealership does not have your best interests in mind. Slight play in "dealer service talk" means no play.