so i was rotation my wheels yesterday since it has been so warm out and i notice my tie rod end bushing is basically non exsistant. Is this an easy fix and i heard you have to buy a whole new tie rod end an also heard it was not an easy fix. any input, i helped my friend put his motor back together and do all my mantaince myself think i could do it without braking my car?

 

It is a very easy fix with the right tools, with out a good set of tools it could be very frustrating. You will most likely need to buy a whole tie rod end, or go to the dealer, in which case you should just buy a whole tie rod end somewhere else, and save yourself some money. A air impact hammer or a small ball joint press, or for that matter a tie rod end press should get it out with no problems. If you plan on replacing the whole end your self don't replace the nut by the back of the tie rod, and only loosen it a little. the new tie rod end will come with a new nut but you would have to get it back to where the old one is else you will need an alignment. also measure the old tie rod end, and the new one from the back to the center of the ball joint pin. if they are not the same length adjust the nut so that the new tie rod end is where the old one was. if you are unsure if the new tie rod end is in the right place go get an alignment, it's better than buying a new tire a lot sooner than you expected to.

If all else fails and you can't get it out you can beat on the spindle under the tie rod end with the big hammer and it will pop out, although it is certainly not the correct way to remove a tie rod end and you might damage the spindle.

 

UMMMM............WHAT??????


You guys lost me already. replacing a tie rod end is not a big deal! pm me if you need help, you can do this in your driveway with basic tools. Pull the cotter pin remove the nut, loosen the nuts on the sleeve, hit it with a hammer to break it loose, remove, install the new one and set the toe....not a big deal.

 

Basically what he said. I just figured that you won't be getting a good swing on a tie rod end with it sitting in your driveway. If it's facing with the pin up then go for it, if it's down then good luck. And I really don't think your explanation of the last step is very informative, "set the toe?" If you know of a good way of doing that in a driveway please tell me, because I know that a tape measure will get you to where you can get a properer alignment, but it's not going to replace one.

 

i hate front end work. it's not so much hard, but for me it's a pain in the ***. part of it is because i have to get it in right. i have too much pride to take my car in for an alignment, and have never needed one. i align it as straight, and fitting as i can get it. i've just always busted ball joints, and tie rods in the past that it's annoying. my front end stuff in the past seemed to never last like anyone elses under the same condition. in my 73 mach 1 i had first it was ball joints, then the tie rod ends, one by one. it may have been the other way around i forget. when i bought the 73 f250 i used to have the ball joints went bad, and broke a few months later. i hate front end stuff. the bushings on my control arms on my 93 5.0 are kinda deteriorated as well.