A week or so ago i drove this old rutted muddy 2 track in my 2wd ranger, and i drove fast because i didnt want to get stuck. i hit a couple of pot holes real hard... the people riding in the bed got air. now suspension is my only real short fall mechanical knowledge. i started to get a vibration when i hit about 70 or so but 60-65 it rides just as smooth as before. so i checked my ball joints and tie rods. my ball joints were tight, but my passenger tie rod had some play in it. so my real question is my ranger has 110k, were my tie rods ready to go and this was the straw that broke the camels back, or did i just drive too hard and if i keep doing that i will just keep on going though tie rods and ball joints?

ps, on my way out of the woods i drove slower and didnt get stuck so next time i wont be quite as aggressive.

 

by tie rod do you mean the arm that goes in to the steering bellows housing? or the end link where it attached to the spindles.

at 110k stock tierods end links are ready to go

and trucks are heavy, sheer momentum will get 2wheelers through most stuff. I only ever get stuck when I attempt something absolutely stupid. So yes youll keep eating tie rod end links and ball joint, and maybe even a spindle or two with hitting ruts/holes too fast