Tie Rod a little Bent

[Jeep914x4]

I took my steering apart today because I am trying to track down a popping noise comming from the front of my jeep. When I took the tie rod off it is a little bent. Not real bad at all but it is not totally straight. I will try to take a pic tomorrow. What is the bent tie rod going to do?

Thanks,
Mike M., New Mexico

[PaulJ]

If it is bent just a little, it will change the toe-in just a little and probably not much else.

[Boz88xj]

Could be a potential weaklink, depending on how bent it is.
but if its not bent that much i wouldnt worry about it, except for teh aforementioned alignment.