[James92Scort]

I stopped by Hires yesterday after work to inquire the cost of getting both the inner and outer tie rods replaced along with a front end alignment. With just that (parts and labor) it would be about 300 bucks. I had planned on having someone put on my struts, springs, brace, rotors and pads at the same time. My question is, is 300 dollars reasonable for just the inner/outer tie rods? I don´t want to get ripped off again, and that does seem a little bit expensive... :-?

 

[pballer98c]

from what i understand... u can do tie rods yourself. i think they are pretty easy to do considering my dad can do it... lol. id say check Chiltons?

 

[James92Scort]

I would but that would mean i´d have to re align it myself, assemble the struts/ springs and do it all myself. i´m too lazy and it´s too cold. I´d rather have it ALL done professionally at the same time.

 

[PTMD]

I picked up a whole rack from a bone yard for $75.Removed the tie rods from the rack and the car, measured em popped em in and was on the road in under three hours.I guess it really depends on how much you will do your self.Here in Western Wa. you would be lucky to find a place where the labor is cheaper then $75 prhr.At three hours plus parts that would be about right but remember they might get ya for an allignment too.I think you may save money to do it yourself then If you need to,get the allignment done.

 

[Pimp_scort_89_GT]

First off there aren´e inner and outter tie rods, only left and right tie rods. The inner and outer parts are the tie rod ends. They are pretty easy to do though. As far as the aligning goes like PMTD said just measure them after you take them off and match up the new ones, and it will be good enough to get you around till you get to an alignment shop.

 

[siragan]

I agree with PMTD.

Get the ties yourself, put them on yourself, and have the shop do the alignment.

You can actually get pretty accurate with a little bit of white-out

Here´s what to do:
Take a little white-out (use the brush-on kind) and just put a mark on the threads of the rod right up to the butt end of the tie end. Then, when you take the tie end off, you´ll have a fairly neat white line, and you can put your new tie ends on there. Only problem is that if your new tie ends are longer, this wont work, but you can measure and get a rough estimate. Then you´ll have alignment at least good enough to get around.

Either way, putting on tierod ends is definetly not something out of reach of the fairly avid mechanic enthusiast.

 

[MadBrad]

so they make root beerAND sell auto parts? ;-)

 

[Zeemax]

I paid $174 to have my left tie rod end replaced so $300 for both doesn´t sound unreasonable. But yeah, it´s something you can do yourself, just be methodical about it and take your time if you´re not sure - use a good manual as well. I wanted to change mine just for the experience but was in a hurry so went ahead and had it done for me.

 

[James92Scort]

You guys have to remember it´s -3 degrees right now, I don´t have the patience or tolerance to spend a few hours outside doing this. Besides you´re missing one important element. I want the shop to do EVERYTHING at once. fix the tie rods, put on the struts/springs, put on the brace and then do an alignment. the tie rods are just one part of a large network of need-this-shit-done-professionally. But since you guys think 300 (parts labor AND alignment) isn´t unreasonable. I´ll try to drop off the car this weekend.

 

[BigRedMachine]

Go for the professional job. Inner Tie rod ends are a bitch to get off. With all the trouble 300 bucks is a great deal.

 

[birddog]

As long as the 300 covers parts and labor for the inner and outer on both sides, that is very reasonable. They are really not that hard to do on your own. takes just about40 minutes a side. Of course, afterward you still have to get it aligned. and btw ya´ll if you are replacing the inner and outer measuring the distance will only get you in the ballpark. you still need to get to an alignment shop ifyou like your tires and fuel economy.

 

[James92Scort]

Well SCREW THIS. I went back to hires to re-ask the price of labor/parts and they upped it to 395 total. I stopped by Autozone to ask the tie rod prices. Here´s what they gave me.

PS, Internal Threaded Track;
Inner: 24.99
Outer: 18.99

PS, External Threaded Track;
Inner: 38.99
Outer: 18.99

My question is, which does the 1992 Escort GT have? Internal or External threaded track? I´ll be lookin this up in my Haynes manual but anyone w/ experience on this subject will really help. I want it to be internal threaded track if at all possible But knowing my luck it´ll be the more expensive of the two.
With a little help I´m sure I can get this shit done by myself. I would need professional installation of the struts and springs though, but w/ me doing the tie rods that would chop off 395 bucks of labor and parts. With all the parts I was asking to have installed the parts and labor cost was about 800 bucks, and seeing as how my f*&king driving lamps just burnt out I had to spend another 40 bucks to get new ones, and now only have roughly 550 bucks left.

 

[95squirt]

the struts and springs are very easy to install your self , i did mine in my friends garage and it was done in a few hours,all it cost me was for parts250bucks for 4 kyb gr-2 struts and a set of moog springs and 40 bucks for the mcpherson strut clamp(make sure u use it if ur gonna do the job).

 

[birddog]

Well James, the outer ones are the same no matter what, the inner ones didn´t follow any schedule that I could figure out as to which ones were internal, and which ones are external. Best advice is to remove the clamps from the hard plastic boot that covers the inner one and slide it out of the way. Then look at both tie rod ends from auto zone and see if you can spot the one that matches what you have. I just got the tool took it off, then borrowed my parents car to get to the store for the parts.

 

[James92Scort]

the only problem with that is that I figure Autozone would have to order the parts, which would take 3 days to get here. I can´t be without a car for 3 days. well i can...but I don´t wanna. :-]

 

[birddog]

that definatly is a problem. When I got mine, Autozone had them in stock fortunately.

 

[James92Scort]

So.........ANYONE internal or external threaded track for the power steering? i guess it makes some sort of difference seeing as how the inner rods prices vary from 24.99 to 38.99...anyone??

 

[James92Scort]

*cough* bump *cough*

This is vital, I must know internal or external threaded track to get my tie rods done cheaply. :-W

 

[birddog]

ahem* bump*ahem

another solution is one that the guys at autozone always let me do - get both then return the wrong ones.

 

[fixitmattman]

I replace the inner tie rods on my 94lx with power steering. They had internal threads. Don´t know if that helps.

Matt