Tie rods and control arm question

[Checkers]

This may be an incredibly dumb question, but I'm new with cars, and have never dealt with tie rods or control arms before. Long story short, I have been using my mom's car for work (Chinese food delivery) because my 99 GS needs a left and right outer tie rod, a right side inner tie rod, and a control arm (I forget which side). My mom needs her car for work tomorrow, and need it multiple times so I can't just drop her off. How bad would it be to drive without these parts being fixed? I can't do it myself (Atleast I don't think I can) and it's a catch 22, where I need to go to work to get the car fixed, but I need the car fixed to work..... What should I do? Worse case scenario I can just call out, but I'd really rather not, since the snow has forced me to do that a few times recently. Thank you for any help guys

 

[sniver]

This is a highly difficult situation to offer input.

Whats wrong with the control arm?
How much play do the wheels have, as grasped at the 9oclock, and 3oclock and shook as to turn the wheels side to side? 1/8"?, 3/8"?

 

[90TSI717]

How bad is the play in the tie rod ends?

I am usually the type of person to replace a part as soon as it goes bad. But sometimes things can wait to be replaced( maybe a couple weeks, even a month or so). However, it could be one pot hole away from a break and then you have to shell out money for a tow as well.

 

[sniver]

Money for a tow is not bad. Court costs for when you barrel across a highway uncontrollably and kill a bus full of orphans is alot more.

 

[Checkers]

To be completely honest, I'm not even sure what these parts do, other than something with steering. Also, I only have ramps, so I can't check the play, but from what I remember the mechanic showing me, it wasn't much. None of it would be highway driving, but a lot of it is on less than smooth roads :-\ Should I just call out from work, and borrow some money to have it replaced? I don't think I'd get fired because other than sometimes calling out I'm always on time and work hard, and as a highschool guy, my car means a helluva lot.

Also, does anyone know where I can find a detailed explanation of changing these parts? I tried Google and eHow gave me a little know-how, but there were no pictures. On the other hand, what should 2 outer tie rods, an inner tie rod, and a rear control arm/ball joint cost me at a mechanic? (Both parts and labor, and just labor)

I'm sorry for so many questions, but I really appreciate all the help. Thanks everyone




And on a slightly unrelated note, does anyone know anything about EVAP stuff? My car is throwing codes P0443 Evap purge control valve and P1495 Evap LPD solenoid. Are these going to affect performance or safety, or do they just deal with emissions?

 

[sniver]

Inner tie rod & labor might be pricey, long with the rear control arm. All together I'd guess $600 out the door.

You could probably do the out tie rods, and thats it. you can't do the inners w/o some knowledge/tools. and the rear control arms are kinda ### themselves.

Plus, you can't align it yourself.


those evap codes are emission only.

It auto edits g a y?WTF

 

[Checkers]

Ok, apparently I was being pessimistic, and remember incorrectly. Fortunately, I do NOT need an inner tie rod, just both front outer tie rods, and a (I'm not sure how this makes sense) a "Left front rear control arm/ball joint". Are there two, or is my mechanic crazy? My left rear rim also has a crack in it, but I don't know how serious this is. Just one spoke is cracked, and I'm not sure how bad the crack is. Also, I have 10 spokes, so how serious is this? Also, (I'm sorry for being so helpless) how much would the two outer tie rods and the control arm/ball joint cost with parts and labor, and how much would just the control arm/ball joint cost with parts and labor if I managed to do the tie rods myself?

Oh also, does anyone know of/have a how to on changing outer tie rods? Either a manual with pictures or a video would be greatly appreciated. thanks for any help you can provide!

Everything I find is about outer tie rods ends. Is that what my mechanic meant, or is that just a part of the whole tie rod?

Nevermind! I found a great video by a guy named Scotty Kilmer about changing outer tie rods, so that just leaves the control arm. Looks pretty complicated, and I don't have a garage or any of the right tools for this, so I might just let my mechanic do that. What should that cost me?

Again everyone, I'm sorry for so many questions, I just trust DSMTuners much more than something like Yahoo! Answers or something like that

 

[sniver]

Cracked rims fail PA safety inspection, so I don't know how New York works, but its not a good idea. Might be doable, but its a bad idea.

You have a left front upper, and lower ball joint. They are not easy to change, and sometimes require a torch to assist the process.

You could replace the tie rods, but it would be best left to the guy doing the alignment. If you don't install them close, you could chew up the tires, unless he's 2 blocks over.

alignment prob $60
two tie rods replaced, labor is $120, parts $80
ball joint labor is prob $80 , part near $70

That totals to $410. could be more, could be less. Why not ask your mechanic for a quote?

 

[Checkers]

Cracked rims fail PA safety inspection, so I don't know how New York works, but its not a good idea. Might be doable, but its a bad idea.

You have a left front upper, and lower ball joint. They are not easy to change, and sometimes require a torch to assist the process.

You could replace the tie rods, but it would be best left to the guy doing the alignment. If you don't install them close, you could chew up the tires, unless he's 2 blocks over.

alignment prob $60
two tie rods replaced, labor is $120, parts $80
ball joint labor is prob $80 , part near $70

That totals to $410. could be more, could be less. Why not ask your mechanic for a quote?

I just wanted an independent source to check on what he might say. I think what I'm going to do is replace the tie rods myself, and have my mechanic do the ball joint and alignment, because he's very close to my house. As for the rim, my car doesn't pass inspection anyways because of emissions, so I just have a friend do it, and I'll replace the rim with the money I save by doing the tie rods myself. Thank you for all the input!

Guys, I'm really sorry I keep posting here, but I wanted to get the opinion of actual DSM owners. Is changing inner and outer tie rods as simple as this video makes it seem?

YouTube - How To Replace Inner And Outer Tie Rods

Getting the tools doesn't bother me, because I'd like to have them for later on in life anyways, plus it seems like for the same price as a mechanic, I can get them replaced, AND some new tools.

 

[sniver]

Outer very strait forward. This issue remains that getting the the castle nut of the ball joint can be a sob w/o air tools. Just do it gently as to not free the shaft just yet. Hit the spindle with a hammer, where it goes around the shaft after the castle nuts off. It'll come loose, drop it out. Just back the jamb nut of a hair, and then unscrew the tie rod off the intermediate tie bar. Install is opposite. Just remember if replaceing the inner, to measure from the rod end to the jamb nut, make it the same on the new one.


Never done a inner on a dsm. Its that easy on some gm's.

You have the right attitude towards this, The rest is just gaining experience. You will mess stuff up along e way, but you will know how to work on cars in the long run if you don't sell it. That or you"ll have a swiss bank account to cover repair costs.

 

[Checkers]

Outer very strait forward. This issue remains that getting the the castle nut of the ball joint can be a sob w/o air tools. Just do it gently as to not free the shaft just yet. Hit the spindle with a hammer, where it goes around the shaft after the castle nuts off. It'll come loose, drop it out. Just back the jamb nut of a hair, and then unscrew the tie rod off the intermediate tie bar. Install is opposite. Just remember if replaceing the inner, to measure from the rod end to the jamb nut, make it the same on the new one.


Never done a inner on a dsm. Its that easy on some gm's.

You have the right attitude towards this, The rest is just gaining experience. You will mess stuff up along e way, but you will know how to work on cars in the long run if you don't sell it. That or you"ll have a swiss bank account to cover repair costs.

Ok, thanks Sniver. I'm definitely going to do the outers, but I might just let the mechanic do the inners, and take my learning slowly. My mom is already freaking out, begging me to let a professional to do the outers, but I'm deadset on atleast doing that much. I'll hopefully have this all done in the next few days, and I'll be sure to check back and let everyone know how it went.

However, would it be stupid to do the outers myself, and then let the mechanic do the inners, since he'd have to take the outers off anyways?

 

[sniver]

Exactly what I was going to say. Your paying him to do the outers, when he does the inners already. Might as well let him do them too at that point.

 

[Checkers]

Exactly what I was going to say. Your paying him to do the outers, when he does the inners already. Might as well let him do them too at that point.

Ok, I'm stupid, there's nothing wrong with my inners. I guess I was just expecting the worst. I need both outer tie rods, and the left front rear control arm, and one of the guys at my local auto parts store is a really cool guy, and is going to help me do it, and since I don't have a garage OR driveway, he's letting me come over and use his. I don't remember if he has a lift, but either way, it will be nice not working on grass or dirt for once.

But thank you for the input, I really appreciate everything

 

[sniver]

Stupid? No, just inexperienced. You only learn and become more knowledgeable by doing exactly what your doing. Hope it all work out good for you. And make sure you take it somewhere to get it aligned, thats not an option, unless replacing tires is.

 

[Checkers]

Stupid? No, just inexperienced. You only learn and become more knowledgeable by doing exactly what your doing. Hope it all work out good for you. And make sure you take it somewhere to get it aligned, thats not an option, unless replacing tires is.

Thanks again I'll be sure to let everyone know how it went, and yes, I plan on getting it aligned right after I finish this.

I have another question though; my mechanic wrote down what I need and he wrote "Left front (Rear) control arm" and the guy at the store said there is one straight and one curved, and the rear one is probably the curved one. Is that true?