New Tie-Rods, Any Way of Preserving Alignment?

New inner and outer tie-rods to go in tomorrow and was hoping there were some tricks or ways to keep from needing another alignment. Someone will have a method right?

Don't thinking counting the threads will help because of being a different manufacturer.

Thanks.

Measure the length.

Measure the length.

+1- the new pieces need to be the same length as the old, to the 64th of an inch- .015"- Some guys mess around counting the thread turns, but that assumes the castings are the same- not necessarily so

Just curious....I've never done this but as a backup to measuring....if you used a set of ramps to get under the car, thus leaving the weight of the car on the wheels, popped the tie-rod without disturbing the steering position, and adjusted the new one to fit the knuckle, would that work in keeping the alignment?

It's done. The ramps might have worked but i can't see doing tie-rods without taking off the wheels.

Did one wheel at a time, matched up the old and new lengths perfectly, and installed without budging the spindles. STILL, the first test drive my steering wheel was 45* off, what the hell? after many adjustments in a big empty parking lot, i finally got the thing driving strait as an arrow and the steering wheel is dead center.

glad i swapped them, the old balljoints were toasted.

btw while i was under there i installed the twin air horns. will put pics + vid up soon, sounds like a ferrari horn.

what i usually do is put some vise grips somewhere before the tie rod, then ill take a measurement from the visegrips to the center of the tie rod. Usually works pretty well.

Did one wheel at a time, matched up the old and new lengths perfectly, and installed without budging the spindles. STILL, the first test drive my steering wheel was 45* off, what the hell? after many adjustments in a big empty parking lot, i finally got the thing driving strait as an arrow and the steering wheel is dead center.

Just because the car drives straight and the wheel is centered doesn't mean the front toe is anywhere near where it should be. You should get it aligned at a shop with the right equipment or you may burn through some tires rather quickly.

If you are very fussy and precise, you can measure toe-in with a tape measure or string- don't have the procedure here at my finger tips, but it is one you can do at home without too much equipment-

Just because the car drives straight and the wheel is centered doesn't mean the front toe is anywhere near where it should be. You should get it aligned at a shop with the right equipment or you may burn through some tires rather quickly.

Very true, It takes very little in the toe being off to quickly ruin a good tire/s!
IMO, take it to an alignment to get the toe set; that's a lot cheaper than buying new tires in a couple of weeks! Guess how I know! :cry:

The wheel is strait and the car drives strait, And i just put on a brand new set of Sumitomos up front, (thats why i replaced the tierods in the first place).

I believe you guys when you say the tow could still be off. but im not paying 60 bucks for some mechanic to turn my tierod threads 180 degrees when the process just seems so simple. Plus these shops around here so are damn busy you need to make an apointment a week ahead of time.

I might try this method when i have a chance.
http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60130

seems do-able right?

Pay the $60. It's worth it. Unless you have a laser alignment machine in your garage, you're not going to do it as well on your own, no matter how good your instructions are.

The wheel is strait and the car drives strait, And i just put on a brand new set of Sumitomos up front, (thats why i replaced the tierods in the first place).

I believe you guys when you say the tow could still be off. but im not paying 60 bucks for some mechanic to turn my tierod threads 180 degrees when the process just seems so simple. Plus these shops around here so are damn busy you need to make an apointment a week ahead of time.

I might try this method when i have a chance.
http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60130

seems do-able right?

A good alignment is one thing that you cannot skimp. Take it to tire discounters. They usually have the latest and best alignment machine and they do alignments so much that they are really good at it.

im not paying 60 bucks for some mechanic to turn my tierod threads 180 degrees when the process just seems so simple.

That actually sounds like a deal, it's at least $90 around here. Your right though, anyone can turn a tie-rod. But without the proper equipment or knowledge it's just a guess.