Will I die if I dont replace tie rods immediately?

[Crazy E]

So I got new tires put on yesterday and the mechanics informed me that the tie rods on the driver and passenger sides are in need of replacement. They showed me the back in forth play so I know theyre legit. The thing is they made it sound as though Im going to be driving along and my car is just going to stop steering. Is this true? Do I need to replace these immediately or can I wait like a month or two?

Also, how hard is it to do this myself? Im strapped for cash so I would like to avod paying the $60 an hour to have this done. Should I just soak them in PB and then pull the pin and loosen the nut?

Im clueless, please help me,

 

[xcelr8n]

DIY, technically if oyure tie rod failed on you, steering would be fubar.
dont delay fix em today

 

[Froyd79]

I wouldnt say death is imminent, but I would say its more like buying a death lottery ticket and the odds are 1 in 10. Anyway it will ruin your new front tires anyway so damned if ya do damned if ya dont. I personaly (since I only buy tires 1 every 3 years) would replace em now.

 

[onepimpclipse]

I thought I could wait a couple of months, and well I could. However I just bought my second set of tires in 6 months. So yeah, change them ASAP.

 

[Crazy E]

alright, cool, Ill order the parts tonight, thanks guys

anyone got any install tips? I have a bad habit of making things worse when I try to fix them sometimes.........\


any help is appreciated

 

[Crazy E]

actually, i just looked at them online and Im not sure if I need the inner or outer tie rod..


uh.....what do you think?

 

[onepimpclipse]

Call the shop and ask. I needed inner, but I doubt that will help you.

www.jnztuning.com Josh will help you out. Dealer parts at discount prices.

I had my mechanic do mine. I also had an Eibach camber kit installed and he aligned all four wheels for $150.

 

[Darksyne]

The thing is they made it sound as though Im going to be driving along and my car is just going to stop steering. Is this true? Do I need to replace these immediately or can I wait like a month or two?

Im clueless, please help me,

If you see this guy hangin around your car, I would replace them

 

[Crazy E]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!



that made my day! death always hangs around my car, God only knows when its going to do something crazy (the reason I got new tires is because I almost died on the highway when I lost control.....long story)


i guess ill give the guy a call and see, on the price quote he put outer, so I hope its them as theyre a little cheaper. I plan on doing this tomorrow if the weather is a little better.

thanks again, if anyone has anything else they would like to add, go for it

 

[soulcontroller]

replacing the outer tie rods is quite simple actually. make sure you have or rent a pickle fork from autozone or the likes. it will make your job much easier. youll need an alignment when you are finished.

 

[irish_love]

I had to replace mine. The stupid f-ing edit I bought the car from didn't even have it bolted on. It was simply held in place by a carter pin and luck. The day after I bought the car I took it to Pep Boys and had two tire put on the front, a four wheel alinment, and a brake inspection. You would have thought the would tell me I needed a new one.

 

[ADrewzki]

I had to replace mine. The stupid f-ing edit (idiot?) I bought the car from didn't even have it bolted on. It was simply held in place by a carter (cotter?) pin and luck. The day after I bought the car I took it to Pep Boys and had two tire put on the front, a four wheel alinment, and a brake inspection. You would have thought the (they?) would tell me I needed a new one.

The ends are easy to replace. Not sure why the pickle fork is needed. I just tapped it out pretty easily.

 

[luv2rallye]

A pickle fork is only needed if the outers don't tap out. Ask your mechanic which ends need replacement - outers, inners, both. The outers are simple - do them yourself. Do both outers even if only one is bad - the other will follow shortly. Pull pin, loosen nut till it is flush with top of post, tap hard on nut until it releases. You can get good ends at Napa - just don't get the cheapest $10 ones. Loosen locking nut and count how many turns each end is on so you can put new ones on same number of turns. This will get you close. You will only need to check/adjust toe which is something you can do yourself (see other posts). If you're careful and use the same ends as was on before, the toe will be nearly the same as it was. Incorrect toe is the fastest way to ruin tires. The inner ends are much more difficult to do. Fortunately the outers go more often than the inners.