Prematurely worn tires, funny metal-on-metal noises, and loose, sloppy steering are all signs that an Infiniti tie rod or Infiniti ball joint on your Q45 or J30 may need a closer look. What do the Infiniti tie rod and Infiniti ball joint have in common that makes them so closely related? To start with, both the Infiniti ball joint and Infiniti tie rod have important roles to play within your car's suspension and steering systems. To start with, the Infiniti ball joint sits at the top of the steering knuckle and acts as the interface between the front wheel and the control arm. In other words, while it isn't the only thing holding the front end together, the Infiniti ball joint is pretty much responsible for keeping the wheels on your car. More than that, though: The Infiniti ball joint allows your wheels to move up and down while keeping them perpendicular to the road, maintaining good handling balance. The Infiniti tie rod, on the other hand, allows your car to steer even while you're traveling over bumps and potholes. By providing a flexible link between the steering rack and the wheel, the Infiniti tie rod lets everything flex when it needs to and keeps everything straight and true. Oh, and the Infiniti tie rod is also where 'toe' alignment adjustments are made, so a bad Infiniti tie rod can prevent your car from maintaining proper alignment. But more than that, since the Infiniti tie rod and Infiniti ball joint are intrinsic parts of your car's front end, you should make sure you replace them at the first sign of trouble. And when the time comes, make sure you order your new Infiniti tie rod or Infiniti ball joint from us to save yourself from the sticker shock of picking up a new Infiniti tie rod or Infiniti ball joint at your local dealership.