2019 Camry XLE

[cricket whisperer]

I have a friend with a 2019 Camry XLE, was in a front end collision about 5 years ago and was repaired.
Each year since then the car passed the Virginia safety inspection.
This year it failed due to play in the inner tie rod.

We are not sure if this was damaged in the accident and got worse over time.

The shops we have talked to say the inner tie rod is part of the rack and only can be replaced as a unit.
I see listing for inner tie rods for this vehicle.

This car has the electric power steering, did Toyota use two different systems that year?

Any thoughts on if just the inner tie rod can be replaced?

If the rack needs to be replace is it $$$ and according to the shop manual the engine/transmission has to come out.

Thanks for the help.

 

[NormanBuntz]

If the tie rod was damaged in the wreck five years ago, wouldn't it have caused some unusual tire wear? Also, maybe there's a difference in the 4 and 6 cylinder models as far as the assembly.

 

[cricket whisperer]

If the tie rod was damaged in the wreck five years ago, wouldn't it have caused some unusual tire wear? Also, maybe there's a difference in the 4 and 6 cylinder models as far as the assembly.

hard to tell about tire wear, she does not drive much so less than 7500 miles in those years. I have driven the car and it tracks straight. Tires are wearing even, but there is play in the tie rod when the car is on a lift. outer tie rod looks OK.

 

[eljefino]

Not related to accident.

I had a dodge neon that claimed the inner tie rods weren't separately replaceable. They didn't have flats for the crows foot wrench to grip. So I cleaned all the grease out, straightened the rod best I could, and shot the joint full of weld. Then I used a pipe wrench to unscrew that bugger.

Replacement part had flats for the tool and went in normally.

 

[skyactiv]

Is this a job where a good mechanic can lower the subframe and save a lot of time? And if so, some shops pass the cost savings to the customer and some don't. I have no idea what the 2019 Camry involves and you didn't state the engine.