I replaced the outer tie rod ends on August 8. The inners didn’t appear to have any play so I left them alone.
I had an alignment done September 3rd after replacing the front shocks and springs and all was well.
Had another alignment done on September 27 after some idiot backed into me on H St. The left inner tie rod end had a large amount of play. Can’t say for sure if it was due to the accident but that’d be my bet.
Firestone quoted me $302.19 to replace the left inner tie rod.
Another job I hadn’t done before but I’d gotten most of the way there when I did the outer tie rods. What could go wrong?
I got 2 inner tie rod ends shipped from RockAuto for $80.68, 2 boots for $47.16 and 2 new boot clamps for $12.60 from Maita Toyota and 2 extra-skinny wrenches for $63.09. In case you’re not counting, that comes to $203.53 for both sides. That’s $400.85 I saved doing it myself. And I’m sure Firestone would have reused the boots and clamps, too. And even though the wrenches weren’t actually needed I’ve already put them to good use on other projects. Without the wrenches it only cost me $140.44 for both sides.
That’s $70.22 for the left side vs the $302.19 Firestone wanted.
I borrowed an inner tied rod removal tool from AutoZone and then got busy for a couple weeks. I was stoked to have it when working on the bathroom plumbing but the nuts were so badly rusted even that wouldn’t help.
Last week wasn’t the first time my dentist used a Craftsman tool in my mouth…
I figured if my dentist can use Craftsman tools on me, I can use dental tools on the 4Runner.
(used it to count threads showing on outer tie rod ends since I’m, you know, old and my vision isn’t what it used to be.)
There was even less purchase area on the new part than the original. Even my new skinny wrenches wouldn’t fit. The AutoZone inner tie rod tool barely fit but it worked.
I got things close after doing the outer tie rod ends but the drive to Firestone for an alignment was still nerve wracking. Apparently I must’ve learned from my mistakes because the 4Runner didn’t even feel like it needed an alignment after I put things back together.
Left is after the Outer Tie Rods. Right is after the Inner Tie Rods
20 Ton Shop Press
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