tie rod question

[03gxeco]

alright, i went to dunn tire and they qouted me over 330 bucks to replace a tie rod end and brake hardware. i LOL'd at their price. so i swung over to advance auto parts and got the brake hardware kit for 10 bucks, and a tierod end for 28.99. and doing it myself is free. my question is, can you replace tierod ends on the alero with out needing an alignment? i know on the chevy lumina you can replace tie rod ends with out needing one.

[[ion] C2]

not the best idea, but you can

[03gxeco]

i dont have much of a choice, i am short on cash right now so doing it by myself and not getting an alignment is about all i can do. good news is, i should have my drilled and sloted front rotors by monday.

[[ion] C2]

alignments are $40

[03gxeco]

they cost 70 here. Fu**'n new york state.. rochester area = bull shi* prices on everything.

[03glgold]

they are about 70 in kansas as well

[billytheman1188]

Cost me $84 for an alignment and that's a good price

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted by [ion] C2

alignments are $40

Not anywhere near here.

[[ion] C2]

For just the front. $80-something for all 4.

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted by 03gxeco

i swung over to advance auto parts and got the brake hardware kit for 10 bucks, and a tierod end for 28.99.

Since your new made in China "Driveworks" tie rod end will only last a couple of months, if that, you may as well not bother getting it aligned. The Moog one I see on their webpage is only $61, and that's not too much to pay for something that will last forever (although Rock Auto has it much cheaper). I am assuming that it's an outer tie rod end. My 1995 Ford Escort has Moog outer tie rod ends that have over 150K miles on them.

Some of the reviews of the crappy outer tie rod end you bought:
works but no grease fitting missing.
Cheap but it was cheap. Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

Not a direct replacement
I have replaced this type item on other vehicles and not had to do any additional maintenance. However, with this particular part I had to have the front end aligned due to the dimensional differences. It was hot an exact replacement.Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend.

These are garbage!
These tie rod ends are very cheap made,threads were bad on one, had to take back! when I greased them grease came out where it was crimped together on top! grease bag looks like it won't last 2 weeks. I cant believe advance sells this product! VERY MADE IN CHINA!Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

BTW, I always replace outer tie rod ends in pairs. Unless you hit a curb, or something.

Originally Posted by 03gxeco

i know on the chevy lumina you can replace tie rod ends with out needing one.

Please explain.

Some people say that they can replace these without doing an alignment, but I assume that's only if their tires need replacing soon anyway AND they do some really careful measuring. Some people go by the turning the threads method, which probably gets you close. Of course if your car is a beater and you can get it close enough, then you don't need an alignment afterwards.

[[ion] C2]

tires wear significantly faster if the alignment is off even a little

[03glgold]

Originally Posted by [ion] C2

For just the front. $80-something for all 4.

i know i shopped to find a good price to get my truck aligned, the best i found was 65 for just the front... unfortunately i either waited to long or too much air because the passenger lower ball joint was bad again...i prolly need to fix that soon.

[03gxeco]

dont care much if it was made in china. i just needed one to hold me over until i get a little more money.
maybe i will take it back and get the moog.


as far as the lumina tierod replacment goes... there was a nut that was not removable on the tierod, so just take the end off and replace it tightening it up to the nut and it is now fine and drives like normal. no pulling, no extra tire wear nothing. that is basically the best i can describe it.

now i feel like crap because i bought a shitty tie rod end thanks guys.

[JLw7123]

Originally Posted by 03gxeco

dont care much if it was made in china. i just needed one to hold me over until i get a little more money.
maybe i will take it back and get the moog.


as far as the lumina tierod replacment goes... there was a nut that was not removable on the tierod, so just take the end off and replace it tightening it up to the nut and it is now fine and drives like normal. no pulling, no extra tire wear nothing. that is basically the best i can describe it.

now i feel like crap because i bought a shitty tie rod end thanks guys.

i have chinese tie rod on my car have had them for over a year. I just did not want to spend the money and i did not really care.

[rustyballs_69]

Just count how many turns it take to take the tie rod off and turn the new one on the same number of turns. You should still get the alignment done but if you short on cash then it can wait a few weeks. The sooner the better though.

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted by JLw7123

i have chinese tie rod on my car have had them for over a year. I just did not want to spend the money and i did not really care.

If you don't want to spend the money on a Moog one, then get the Turkish ones with the grease fittings instead (Deeza brand). Probably also mail order, and definitely not as good as Moog, but probably the second best one if the TRW one doesn't have a grease fitting.

The whole not caring is OK if you like replacing the part again in the near future. Personally I wouldn't buy any outer toe rod end that doesn't have a grease fitting.

[TdotAlero]

To align the toe shouldn't cost more than $40-$50. A 30 minute job tops.

[zzyzzx]

Originally Posted by TdotAlero

To align the toe shouldn't cost more than $40-$50. A 30 minute job tops.

Shouldn't and does are two different things!

[03gxeco]

Originally Posted by zzyzzx

Shouldn't and does are two different things!

agreed ^

[xXManwhoreXx]

Its like 60 here for a full alignment