tie rod ends

[1990LTD]

Is it worth it to buy Moog? I need outers and I see a huge price difference on RockAuto...I want them soon though so I might just buy whatever the parts store has in stock if it doesn't much matter.

I don't want to have to replace the things again in 6 months but I don't wanna spend that money if I don't need to.


Are they the same on both sides of our cars? Should you usually replace the inner/outer at the same time? Shop that installed my tires said I need outers before it can be aligned, but all they said was outer.

[85crownHPP]

I think the inner/outer differ a little in length, but yes they are a mirror image from side to side.
As long as you get something greasable, they should last at least a few years. The better stuff may last a few more years, or more.
If you are doing it yourself, you don't necessarily have to do them all at once, you won't be saving that much time. You'll have to get another alignment, but that and another afternoon is about all you would save.

Unless... your tie rod sleeves are really rusty and wont loosen up. Then just go ahead and get all 4 tie rods and new sleeves (sleeves are cheap)
I forgot to consider your location... lol

[91waggin]

Buy the Moog. It's doubtful you'll have to think about them again.

[1987cp]

Last I got balljointey stuff, I bought TRW. Made in Michigan.

[1990LTD]

thanks guys! I will buy what I can afford at the moment and replace all of 'em. I don't want to replace the outer ones now and the inner ones midway through the winter if they decide to break.

[86VickyLX]

MOOG is a good buy. I use their stuff on all of my front end stuff. I replaced the pitman, idler arms, and inner and outer tie rod ends almost 2 years ago, the front end is still very tight. No play in the steering. Replace it all at once, I'm telling you now, to save yourself time and money. I did all my steering stuff in one night, set everything as close to how it was before (the old ends were really trashed). It drove down the road straight, but the steering wheel was off. Had it aligned the next day, drove straight, and the steering wheel was nice and level.

Replace it all, and then have it aligned once, it's cheaper that way.

[1990LTD]

yeah an alignment is the better part of a hundred bucks, usually 60ish. paying for that twice would be able to pay for all of my tie rod ends

[zoomie]

make sure the tierod ends are in the right spot otherwis you will go through tires too.

[pantera77]

make sure the tierod ends are in the right spot otherwis you will go through tires too.

That's why you get an alignment.

[1987cp]

Actually, setting the toe is perfectly easy to do at home. No point in paying for an alignment if your camber and caster settings are already acceptable.

[1990LTD]

2 inner tie rod ends
2 outer tie rod ends
2 tie rod adjusting sleeves
1 pitman arm
1 idler arm

what else should i be ordering and replacing while i'm under there? ball joints are relatively new

[1990LTD]

it looks like the idler arm comes with a bushing but are they usually fine (quality-wise) to use?

[1990LTD]

oh I forgot to put sway bar links on that list...I have bushings for it too.

[86VickyLX]

2 inner tie rod ends
2 outer tie rod ends
2 tie rod adjusting sleeves
1 pitman arm
1 idler arm

what else should i be ordering and replacing while i'm under there? ball joints are relatively new

You don't need the tie rod adjusting sleeves. As long as they're in good shape you can reuse the old ones.

[1990LTD]

You don't need the tie rod adjusting sleeves. As long as they're in good shape you can reuse the old ones.

I'm gonna replace 'em while everything is apart anyway, just so I don't have to think about the front end again for a long assed time.