Inner tie rod end - is it easy to replace?? RESOLVED
#1
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Inner tie rod end - is it easy to replace?? RESOLVED
took The Mistress in for some new tires and an alignment but was told they couldn't do the alignment as the driver's side inner tie rod end needs replaced. I didn't see it listed individually on the SNG Barratts website - so can it be replaced or do I need a whole new rack?
Last edited by sklimii; 05-15-2019 at 09:38 AM.
#2
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Super easy. I used a large crescent wrench to avoid a trip to autozone for tool rental. Can be done in less than an hour, but I did one side at a time and drove the car in between to set the toe based on steering wheel angle, to save a trip to the alignment shop. Living on a straight (over 1/4 mile), flat, quiet road helps when doing driveway alignments.
#6
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John - thanks -already have the outer on hand so just ordered inner as well as lower ball joints - since I noticed the boot on both sides is damaged. Will be busy next weekend!
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#10
I also learned that the rack bellows makes the lower wishbone bolt hard to remove and It takes way more time to try to wiggle the bolt past the bettows without damaging the belows, than it does to just loosen the clamp and slide the bellows out of the way.
The Lower ball joints are a much bigger job. Harbor Freight 20 to press is highly recommended.
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#13
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Wayne - the portion of the lower control arm with the ball joint is just shy of $600 on SNG's web site and Jagbits has it at $756 new and $325 used. The ball joints were only $22 each plus shipping and you know I'm taking the lower cost route here. I'll call around tomorrow see if I can get a shop to assist this weekend once I get the arms off
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#16
If you were in DFW, I'd press them in/out for $100/pr, which is about what someone who doesn't know what they are getting into would charge...on the second set they'll charge $250/pr until they learn the tricks to get the price back down to $100/pr.
The problem is that it isn't a straight press, so it needs a fixture (that can withstand about 10 tons) that stabilizes the arm during the press. I made a cradle out a wooden 4X4s that got completely crushed, just as the ball joint seated.
The problem is that it isn't a straight press, so it needs a fixture (that can withstand about 10 tons) that stabilizes the arm during the press. I made a cradle out a wooden 4X4s that got completely crushed, just as the ball joint seated.
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