I could be wrong but I don't think so...

Either out tie rod or tie rod end has a rubber to be fastened to chassis or hold grease for lubricating moving rods. Over time, the rubber is aged, causing the rubber being cracked. The symptom is noise - whenver you go over a bump, like in your community there is a raised bump with zebra lines on it, you will hear noise.

It's recommended to change the rubber, however, it'll not break the ruds causing catastrophicalities.