Short story long:

So I recently went to my alignment/mechanic and asked for him to set up my car to some custom alignment specs for AutoX, and upon setting up the front camber, my mechanic was not able to set the toe properly because the inner tie-rod ends are completely frozen solid and the bolts are rounded off. A huge wrench and some torch action later, and we decided it was a losing battle.

So I ordered up some new inner tie-rods and will be adding a whiteline RCK eventually, however my mechanic wants over 300 bucks to replace the inner tie-rod ends.

So my question is: How difficult is it to change those out, and is it something that can be done in a garage within a day or two?

Or will I need some professional help on something like this?


Disclaimer: I just bought this car and I'm trying to restore some of the more neglected items.

 

I'm guessing no one has needed to replace this part as of yet or no one has actually performed the work themselves.

 

Usually now, getting a rebuilt complete rack is easier and cheaper than doing an inner tie rod.

First of all you will need the proper tool to get the tie rod off the rack assembly, which most people don't have anyway.

I'm in need of both inners, due to mileage and wear. I have the tools to change them, but i'm just getting a new rack.

 

I feel that replacing the inner tie rods would not be that difficult... I have never done them on an Evo, let alone an AWD car. However, it should not be much more than a FWD car or 4WD truck - both of which I have done without much hassle.

I find it very hard to believe that a long rack (rack + inner tie rods) would be cheaper than just replacing the tie rods. The proper tools are not hard to come by. I know Advance Auto has them in a loaner tool set.

$300 sounds about right, seeing as how it can be timely, but still shouldnt be difficult. You just have to unbolt/remove/set aside a lot of stuff.

 

Did the inner tierod ends on my car. It was a piece of cake with an inner tie rod end tool.

I replaced mine with aftermarket peices from moonface

 

Well the parts themselves were 83 bucks, that sounds a lot less expensive than an entire rack. Sounds like I should go to a local parts store and rent the inner tie-rod end tool and spend my weekend cranking away at it. There's no way I'm willing to spend 350 bucks for something I can do myself.

I'll post up my results later, maybe some pics.

 

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...-tie-rods.html

Here's a write-up to help you on your journey.

 

A quality inner tie rod tool with different sized adapters can be bought from Harbor Freight for around $40. It is a good tool to have.

I personally replaced my inner tie rods at about 40k miles.

It is a simple job, and the parts cost about $75.

The clamps for the dust boots are not reusible. I used a large Zip tip tie for the inner, and a small hose clamp for the outer.

When unthreading the outer tie rod from the inner, count the threads so you know approximately how far to thread the new ones back on.

Good luck!

 

Wow, thank you so much for finding that how-to thread. I did a tie-rod search but came up with garbage I wasnt looking for. Looks like I need to get some boot clamps too, thank you for telling me that too. Love this community...

 

What tie rods are you guys using, any aftermarket ones?

 

Moonface makes aftermarket ones

 

I just bought some generic ones from Napa. They seem to be working just fine.

 

do you have a link to moonface!!!!???!

 

Got them from Kami on here. Here's the link but thread is closed now.

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...y-japan-d.html

 

You got apart number for them or just went ahead and asked them.

Moonface's are baller but am not going on a super lap.