Hey all, got a good one that I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place on. My front end has been clunking like crazy lately and my steering feels like its wandering, so I plan on getting new inner/outer tie rod ends for the beast. Question is this- Inners are $25 each from what I have found, and look somewhat easy to do. But a whole Rack is $90 (a whopping $40 more) and comes with inners already attached. Question is, should I save my $$ on the inners and just buy a whole rack, or is that $40 better spent on other parts? Car only has 130k on it.
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Tie Rods
- Thread starter WackyWRZ
- Start date
RE: Tie Rods
IMO labor wise just buy the inners. It is a complete PITA to change that rack. I changed one on my T-bird once, and I guarantee you I'll never change another one. If I need a rack it's going in the shop, no questions asked. While your down there, may as well do the upper and lower ball joints as well. It'll hold an alingment much better, and you'll have a little peace of mind knowing that it has all been taken care of. Although it does not happen too often, old ball joints sometimes give. With a 130K, it's time anyway.
IMO labor wise just buy the inners. It is a complete PITA to change that rack. I changed one on my T-bird once, and I guarantee you I'll never change another one. If I need a rack it's going in the shop, no questions asked. While your down there, may as well do the upper and lower ball joints as well. It'll hold an alingment much better, and you'll have a little peace of mind knowing that it has all been taken care of. Although it does not happen too often, old ball joints sometimes give. With a 130K, it's time anyway.
RE: Tie Rods
Your rack may just need tightening. Mine was loose and made some clunking noise. I completely rebuilt the front end, but the clunk was still there. A Midas shop suggested that the rack be tightened. So I let them do it for free, and it eliminated the clunk. A loose steering rack would also cause your car to "wander".
Your rack may just need tightening. Mine was loose and made some clunking noise. I completely rebuilt the front end, but the clunk was still there. A Midas shop suggested that the rack be tightened. So I let them do it for free, and it eliminated the clunk. A loose steering rack would also cause your car to "wander".
M8SHOSCGUY
Registered
RE: Tie Rods
I vote for Inner + Outter Tie Rods, upper ball joint assemblies, and sway bar end links. Fixed mine right up, nice and tight. Lower ball joints are usually still good on these cars.
mark
I vote for Inner + Outter Tie Rods, upper ball joint assemblies, and sway bar end links. Fixed mine right up, nice and tight. Lower ball joints are usually still good on these cars.
mark
RE: Tie Rods
I inspected it a bit further and found when I grab the wheel at 3/9 and shake it that theres movement, so I looked and see there is slight play in the outer, but I see the inner moving too... So I pull the boot loose, and see that the movement is comming from the rack itself. How much play should I get from the rack with the car jacked up? When I was shaking it, the PS was in the air, and the DS was on the ground. I also noticed no play with the DS up and the PS down. Guess I might need a rack, if so, am I looking at a nightmare?
I inspected it a bit further and found when I grab the wheel at 3/9 and shake it that theres movement, so I looked and see there is slight play in the outer, but I see the inner moving too... So I pull the boot loose, and see that the movement is comming from the rack itself. How much play should I get from the rack with the car jacked up? When I was shaking it, the PS was in the air, and the DS was on the ground. I also noticed no play with the DS up and the PS down. Guess I might need a rack, if so, am I looking at a nightmare?