Wondering if anyone has ever replaced one of these, i was getting some new tires put on the truck today, and the drivers side wheel was quite loose, could easily shake it, the truck is an 06 f150 xlt 4x4, he quoted me $180 to replace the outer tie rod, and do the alignment. It looks like i could go ahead and do it myself, a Moog replacement would run me about $50, and i would have to go ahead and get a alignment afterwards for $100, what does everyone think? By the way the truck has 117,000 ,miles on it.

 

The outer tie rod is the really easy one to change. When you loosen the nut to the last couple or 3 threads, back one side of the knuckle with a large hammer (about 4- 8 lbs if you have one, like a small short handle sledge) and hit the opposite side (180 degrees) with about a 3 lb. hammer. (I NEVER used the wedge tool that is made for it, this works MUCH better). Hit it like you mean it. The jarring causes it to fall right out. Then carefully count the turns to get the old one off (or better yet, measure from the center of the ball to the end of the threads on the inner tie rod.) You should come out with the same toe that way. If it goes straight down the road and the tires wear evenly, it's up to you about the alignment. At 117K mi, it may well need it, but NOT just because you changed the outer tie rod. I did alignments in the course of my work for a # of years (and I ALWAYS road tested 'em to make certain they handled perfectly when I was done.) If your truck is "within specs", even if not really right, a LOT of shops will charge you for alignment even though they only "guaged" iot.

 

I think I'd spend the extra 30 bucks. His work should come with some kind of guarantee.

 

Thanks guys for the responses, i called up the place today and the guy wanted another 120 for the alignment on top of the 180 for the parts and labor. So after that i quickly went over to advance auto parts and picked up a moog outer tie rod, probaly spent about 30 to 40 minutes on the install. So overall the install was pretty easy after reading the suggestions from code58 and reading the haynes manual.

Thanks again code58 and glc