Last night when I was coming home from work (it snowed yesturday after I got to work) I got run off the road by an idiot in a 4x4. anyway I hit a curb just right and bent my inner tie rod end. that all that I can see thats wrong with it (for now).
Should i replace them myself or have someone else do it. Its going to cost about 50 or so for the parts and I was qouted 175 parts and labor to let them do it. I would normally do it myself, but I spent all day (and I do mean all day) Sunday working on the car and I just got it working and back on the road when it freakin snowed....i just dont even want to look at it...
I dont have the tool to do this either...

how does the tie rod hook up to the stearing rack? does it just screw in? Im sure it wont be that hard... just make sure to mark everything so your alignment isnt was off and go get it aligned when you are done.

or 175 parts and labor is a pretty good price if they are going to align it to...

or 175 parts and labor is a pretty good price if they are going to align it to...


it includes the alignment.

unless you have the right tool to take the tie rod out, i wouldn't do it yourself. there is really no decent way to do it without a tie rod tool. besides that, go for it. but $175 sounds like a great price to me with an alignment.

I did mine myself w/o the tie rod tool. It was tough to do with a wrench but its definately possible.

^^yeah, that's why i said there's no decent way to do it. it can be done, but it's not so much fun.

$175 sounds like a great price to me with an alignment.


I agree.

just pay them cause itll be 50 bucks then you ahve to go gt it alighned so your reall y not saving to much when you do it yourself, besides its coid out.

and check your timing

and check your timing

what does this have to do with my tie rod? or are you just saying because its cold out.

I'd almost be willing to bet that the control arm got bent too, they are like tissue paper on our cars. Let the shop do it, then atleast you can blame someone elce for a bad alignment. It also wouldn't hurt for you to have them do a 4-wheel alignment too, I would bet money that they're just doing a 2-wheel alignment.

What's involved in replacing the inner tie rod? I happen to have a set of new ones at home that I got as part of a package of parts I bought, so I'm curious on how to do it.

Thanks,
Chris

Its not too hard to replace. It simply screws in (with a locking plate) onto the steering rack. You might as well replace the tie-rod boot while you're in there (its like 10$).

The problem is, getting time to get the car up, taking the wheel off and getting down and dirty.

unless you have the right tool to take the tie rod out, i wouldn't do it yourself.


Are you talking about the inner tie rod end or the outer tie rod end? Also, wouldn't the right tool just be a cheap tie rod/ball joint fork?

I'm about to replace my outer ends so I wanted to make sure.

The outter are easy as hell. The inner one sucked when I did it *maybe because I did it in a snowstorm..in my driveway..dunno. The inner one you have to take the boot off *which WILL tear*. The old tie rod, there's a locking tab that goes around it. Bend back each of the 4 tabs with a screwdrivers and push the tab back as far as you can. Use a crescent wrench and have someone hold your steering wheel all the way to one side to get the rod out as far as possible. I used my legs to just slam it out; that things in there good. When getting the new one, make SURE to get a new locking clip. I made the mistake of using my old clip, and it ended up not staying in and worked its way out of the rack. Basically it screws back in and re-connect everything. Make sure to count the amount of turns between the two tie rods so you wont need an alignment as bad. Also, I'd suggest using that red crap you put on bolts so it doesn't unscrew *brain fart..forgot the name*. For 175 with an alignment, I'd say have them do it. If you do do it, the OEM one doesn't come with a new bolt or locking tab. The tab is like 10 bux from them. And the ones at Autozone and NAPA don't tend to fight right. HAVE FUN!

what does this have to do with my tie rod? or are you just saying because its cold out.

hahaha not a damn thing....im just putting thta in everyth post i make for a while.....

btw check your timing.

When I replaced the entire steering rack in a phantom attempt to get rid of steering groan, I was glad it came with new inner tie-rods.

Laying under the car all the way back towards the firewall and wrenching in tight spaces is not fun. I'd probably go for it if I didn't have to drive the car every day and had a warm garage. Otherwise, meh.

The only real time a steering rack would be easy to replace is when a motor was out...any other time its a bitch. :)