I need some information about tie rod end construction

I scraped at mine with a dental pick -- it's definitely cold hard steel. In your image, the white part is plastic, right? Does it articulate there? Mine does. It moves 1st, then the bigger ball moves 2nd. Is that okay? That's what I need to know.

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It could certainly have a steel bushing. If there's no slop, do it to it. Plastic bushings might be why so many new parts turn to crap so quickly.