Replacing inner and outer tie rod?

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I was replacing my inner and outer tie rod. Inner did not have any play in it but would flop down and it was obvious it was on its last legs.
I was wondering. How often do you replace the inner and outer tie rod together? Just the outer? How many outer tie rods does the inner last?

Because I live in the rust belt I was able to "decipher" the rust rings around the inner and outer to determine that they were both the same age.

What are your experiences? I guess it differs depending on the vehicle? O heard that dodge trucks have front ends that need constant work.

Also I only replaced the one side, the other had zero play and was tight.

 

[BrendanC]

i will only replace them in pairs. i do not see the benefit in replacing only one if you’re already there and have to pay for an alignment anyways. why not reset the timer entirely versus only doing one end and having to get back in sooner. anytime i’m going to pay for an alignment i always replace everything i can.

 

[zrxkawboy]

IME, outers fail much more often than inners.

 

[Jetronic]

Inners rarely fail. I think I needed to replace about 50 outers for each inner back in the day. I think I actually had more failed steering racks (but that's skewed because Tucson racks failed like clockwork)

 

[IndyIan]

i will only replace them in pairs. i do not see the benefit in replacing only one if you’re already there and have to pay for an alignment anyways. why not reset the timer entirely versus only doing one end and having to get back in sooner. anytime i’m going to pay for an alignment i always replace everything i can.

Set the toe and go! That's cheap to do at home, so I just replace one side or part at a time.
I haven't had to do an axle boot since like 2002 though, on our 92 Sentra, and I'm pretty sure my "trusted" mechanic did one every couple years to pad the bill.... Everything else has got to ~200k miles and been scrapped or sold on the original axles....

 

[DemoFly]

I've personally never had an inner fail. But I've also only owned a couple rack and pinion cars. I can say that I've had the inners last 300k on our Toyotas.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

I found torn boots, so it's worth replacing the inner tie rods at that point

 

[kschachn]

I found torn boots, so it's worth replacing the inner tie rods at that point

In my experience this happens more often than failure of the actual joint. I’ve only replaced the inner tie rods on my old Sienna and the Accord, and only once.

 

[D60]

It depends on access. The inner-most clamp can be virtually impossible on some, even with the right angle clamp tools. And you can't even get a zip tie on and pull it tight, even with long pliers

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

n access. The inner-most clamp can be virtually impossible on some, even with the right angle clamp tools. And you can't even get a zip tie on and pull it tight, even with long pliers

I had to get a special tool to get to mine which is sandwiched between massive sway bar, heat shield and a bunch of other stuff. I would NEVER use a zip tie in the rust belt, that darn thing creates vacuum when working and you dont want it sucking up salt water in the boot to eat the ball joint.



This is interesting. We have people who say inner tie rods never fail we have people who replace both.
While my outer tie rod end was 100% busted and gone my inner tie rod was almost there, it would just flop down, no in and out play YET but well on the way there.

To be fair I took the HEAVY ford flex off roading for my work and I did hear it thud and bottom out on our super crappy junk yard "driveway".
Other side has zero play so I am assuming that the impact did the damage not the wear.

 

[Lubener]

I was replacing my inner and outer tie rod. Inner did not have any play in it but would flop down and it was obvious it was on its last legs.
I was wondering. How often do you replace the inner and outer tie rod together? Just the outer? How many outer tie rods does the inner last?

Because I live in the rust belt I was able to "decipher" the rust rings around the inner and outer to determine that they were both the same age.

What are your experiences? I guess it differs depending on the vehicle? O heard that dodge trucks have front ends that need constant work.

Also I only replaced the one side, the other had zero play and was tight.

Ford trucks are any better. Front end part replacement is common well before 100k miles.

Me, I only replace what is worn out. Much of the aftermarket stuff is worse than the OEM.

 

[kschachn]

It depends on access. The inner-most clamp can be virtually impossible on some, even with the right angle clamp tools. And you can't even get a zip tie on and pull it tight, even with long pliers

I actually have a scar on my right hand that I got installing an inner boot on the Accord.

 

[dogememe]

At work we sell oodles of outers and few inners comparatively. I've never had to replace tie rods on any vehicle with rack and pinion steering. Only on older trucks with gearboxes at which point I did both inners and outers at the same time.

 

[D60]

Also I rarely trust any steering linkages I can get readily, so I try to only replace that which is obviously worn.

I'd rather have used OEM than new aftermarket.