1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Failed inspection today - bad tie rod???

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by kingston73, Oct 8, 2010.

  1. Oct 8, 2010 at 1:33 PM
    #1
    kingston73

    kingston73 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2009
    Member:
    #20845
    Messages:
    3,032
    Gender:
    Male
    North eastern Ohio
    Vehicle:
    09 SR5 4.0L 4x4
    I failed my inspection today, the guy showed me why. You can put hands on either side of my right front tire and move it back and forth a bit, he said it's either a bad inner or bad outer tie rod but he'd need to put it on a lift and inspect it closer to find out. Does this sound right to y'all?

    Also, for a tie rod replacement he quoted me about $200 for the inner or a little less for the outer, he said it's an hour job for the inner one and about 30 minutes for the outer. Again, is this about right? I've never done any steering related work on my truck.

    Last question, will I need an alignment after I get this done? I'm planning on getting some new tires in another month or so anyway and was going to get it done then.
     
  2. Oct 8, 2010 at 1:35 PM
    #2
    TacomaDan

    TacomaDan Don't go off ninjin

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2009
    Member:
    #16471
    Messages:
    736
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Daniel
    Woodland, CA
    Vehicle:
    1996 Toyota Tacoma Fully Not Loaded
    Love, Cobra 29 LTD BT CB w/ A2000 Highgear antenna, FOX/Fabtech Coilovers, Magnaflow
    I dont know how your inspections go but ya you will need an alignment after the install. That may be included with the job but I'm not sure. and It could or could not be the tie rods at all. Your best bet would be to get it on a lift and have someone check it out. Could be the rack and pinion also.
     
  3. Oct 8, 2010 at 1:36 PM
    #3
    scottri

    scottri Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2010
    Member:
    #35187
    Messages:
    2,091
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Scott
    Tigard Oregon
    Vehicle:
    '10 Sport DC TRD Sport PreRunner
    Cover King Seat Covers, WeatherTech Liners, PopNLock, storage bin locks, N-Fab Step bars, and G4 Elite Tonneau cover.
    Could be bad wheel bearings as well. I've seen that before.
     
  4. Oct 8, 2010 at 1:49 PM
    #4
    PLC721

    PLC721 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2009
    Member:
    #28268
    Messages:
    18,957
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Patrick
    Chandler, Az
    Vehicle:
    2017 Toyota Tundra Crewmax ProKiller
    Kings, Toyos, Baja Designs, TC, SDHQ
    x2 on scott with the wheel bearing
     
  5. Oct 8, 2010 at 2:09 PM
    #5
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Member:
    #42529
    Messages:
    6,009
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steve
    San Jose CA
    Vehicle:
    '11 Std Cab 4x4 5sp
    OME suspension, ARB Air Lockers, CBI/Relentless/Pelfrey armor, HAM radio
    I assume he put hands on the top and bottom of the wheel, tried a similar test, didn't get movement, and therefore ruled out wheel bearing.

    But if you're not going to DIY, yeah, just take it to a mechanic you trust. $200 all up including parts and alignment, seems *very* reasonable to me.
     
  6. Oct 8, 2010 at 2:47 PM
    #6
    kingston73

    kingston73 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2009
    Member:
    #20845
    Messages:
    3,032
    Gender:
    Male
    North eastern Ohio
    Vehicle:
    09 SR5 4.0L 4x4
    He never lifted it so didn't do a top and bottom test. I can move it right/left if I push/pull on it, but I haven't lifted it myself to try top/bottom.
    Would that be a wheel bearing test?
    Is there any way for me to self-diagnose it first?
    If tie-rod, does it make sense to just replace the whole thing? I'm assuming its all from 2001 so wouldn't the non-replaced side wear out soon too?
    How hard a job is it to DIY for the tie rods?
    How hard a job is it to DIY the wheel bearings?
     
  7. Oct 8, 2010 at 3:27 PM
    #7
    RattleTractor

    RattleTractor Lube: It's the key to penetration.

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2008
    Member:
    #9899
    Messages:
    2,185
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Harry
    VT
    Vehicle:
    '04 Unicorn Tacoma
    1KZ-TE Diesel, GFC, Pizza cutters, Dorkel
    Ya mine failed because of the outer tie rod end. Guy had the truck on a lift and shook the tire back and forth a bunch. I bought a Toyota one for 60 bucks or so, took an hour to install, and then got a $50 alignment afterward.
     
  8. Oct 8, 2010 at 3:34 PM
    #8
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Member:
    #42529
    Messages:
    6,009
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steve
    San Jose CA
    Vehicle:
    '11 Std Cab 4x4 5sp
    OME suspension, ARB Air Lockers, CBI/Relentless/Pelfrey armor, HAM radio
    Outer Tie rod end replace should be pretty easy. Make sure to buy or rent a tie rod end puller - much easier than BFHing it.

    Wheel bearing's a little more involved.

    I usually take the shop labor book time and multiply by four to figure out how long it'll take me to do the job. I'm a hobbyist not a pro, and I work s-l-o-w.

    You need tools, jackstands, jack, patience, and a back-up car to make tool/parts runs to the store while the truck you're fixing's up on jackstands.
     
  9. Oct 8, 2010 at 3:36 PM
    #9
    bjmoose

    bjmoose Bullwinkle J. Moose

    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2010
    Member:
    #42529
    Messages:
    6,009
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Steve
    San Jose CA
    Vehicle:
    '11 Std Cab 4x4 5sp
    OME suspension, ARB Air Lockers, CBI/Relentless/Pelfrey armor, HAM radio
    After tie-rod ends, no matter which, you'll need an alignment after - that's not something you can DIY.

    I don't *think* wheel bearing replace should cause a need for alignment.
     
  10. Oct 8, 2010 at 4:17 PM
    #10
    kingston73

    kingston73 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2009
    Member:
    #20845
    Messages:
    3,032
    Gender:
    Male
    North eastern Ohio
    Vehicle:
    09 SR5 4.0L 4x4
    I've been looking at the shop manual and watching some youtube vids since I first posted, and went under the truck and the boot around the inner rod has a great big rip in it, so I'm thinking it's most likely the inner tie rod. From what I've seen, it looks like you need a special tool to remove the inner one?
    It looks relatively easy to replace the outer, but if I replace both I won't have to worry about it. Now I need to look for a place that sells the boot as well.
     
  11. Oct 8, 2010 at 5:42 PM
    #11
    kingston73

    kingston73 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2009
    Member:
    #20845
    Messages:
    3,032
    Gender:
    Male
    North eastern Ohio
    Vehicle:
    09 SR5 4.0L 4x4
    There seems to be a million different brands to choose from. Advance auto sells several, how good are Beck/Arnley products? I could get an inner and outer and the boot for $114 from Advance. If I do it myself do I need a special wrench to loosen the inner or can I just use a big cresent wrench?
     
  12. Oct 8, 2010 at 6:59 PM
    #12
    crazyasu45

    crazyasu45 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 14, 2009
    Member:
    #17241
    Messages:
    708
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    2013 MGM DCLB 4X4 TRD SPORT
    3" SUSPENSION LIFT
  13. Oct 9, 2010 at 11:16 AM
    #13
    kingston73

    kingston73 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2009
    Member:
    #20845
    Messages:
    3,032
    Gender:
    Male
    North eastern Ohio
    Vehicle:
    09 SR5 4.0L 4x4
    Found Moog inner and outers at Advanced Auto, have to go back tomorrow to pick up the boot because they had to order and ship it. I've got PB BLaster soaking on the rod threads now and will probably jack it up and start to try taking things apart later today. Advance lets you rent (free with return) a special tool for the inner, so hopefully things will be relatively easy. I'm planning on taking some pictures as I go, I've read a few different tutorials online and it seems like it's not terribly difficult. Any of y'all done this yourselves, and if so is there anything I need to look out for?
     
  14. Oct 9, 2010 at 11:20 AM
    #14
    The_Hodge

    The_Hodge Volunteer Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2007
    Member:
    #1432
    Messages:
    31,629
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    15 Lariat Sport 5.0L
    Seeing the third gen section forced me to get a Ford...
    1st gens....WOOOOOOOOOOOOO :D
     
  15. Oct 9, 2010 at 1:48 PM
    #15
    kingston73

    kingston73 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2009
    Member:
    #20845
    Messages:
    3,032
    Gender:
    Male
    North eastern Ohio
    Vehicle:
    09 SR5 4.0L 4x4
    Yeah, you and your fancy pants 2nd gens........at least mine's paid off:D
     
  16. Oct 10, 2010 at 11:40 AM
    #16
    MowTaco

    MowTaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2009
    Member:
    #22530
    Messages:
    3,817
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Matt
    Kansas
    Vehicle:
    16 Chevrolet Silverado
    And stops accelerating when you tell it to...
     
  17. Oct 10, 2010 at 11:42 AM
    #17
    The_Hodge

    The_Hodge Volunteer Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2007
    Member:
    #1432
    Messages:
    31,629
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    15 Lariat Sport 5.0L
    Seeing the third gen section forced me to get a Ford...
    no taco has legitimately had that issue....same for prius, etc
     
  18. Oct 10, 2010 at 11:58 AM
    #18
    kingston73

    kingston73 [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2009
    Member:
    #20845
    Messages:
    3,032
    Gender:
    Male
    North eastern Ohio
    Vehicle:
    09 SR5 4.0L 4x4
    Finished but no pictures. It took a total of 2 hours, including the time it took at advance auto getting some tools and parts. I ended up using the following tools:
    big pipe wrench - unscrewed the inner with this and held the inner while unscrewing the locknut
    Channel locks- used these to pinch the lock washer down around the inner
    adjustable wrench - need either this or a 30 mm wrench for the lock nut
    BFH - used this to beat the S*&T out of the outer tie rod to get it loose from the knuckle. The local Advance Auto guys didn't have a puller, and the pickle fork I had didn't work at all to separate them. I don't know how you're supposed to get the outer tie rod loose without destroying the threads or the boot so can't help there.

    I made sure to use thread lock on the inner tie rod, even though it has a lock washer the different sources I've read recommend using it.

    The old ITR was incredibly loose, I could move the ball about 1/4 inch in and out. The OTR was pretty loose too, so hopefully this makes my steering feel a bit better. Now I just have to wait until weds or thurs to take it back, get it re-inspected, and get it aligned.

    Total price for the whole thing: $120 inner and outer MOOG parts
    about $50 in tools I didn't have
    complete job - less than $200. The shop estimated it would be $200 for just the inner, he said the inner would cost $116 and the outer $100. Don't know what manufacturer he was getting them from, but damn, where'd he get those prices from?

    Oh yeah, and if any of you plan on doing this yourselves, the long inner tie rod tool sold at harbor freight and other places, (the one you can see being used in several youtube vids) doesn't work for the 1st gen tacoma. At least the one that Advance Auto had didn't, it wouldn't fit over the inner tie rod enough to get to the flats.
     
  19. Oct 10, 2010 at 6:23 PM
    #19
    The_Hodge

    The_Hodge Volunteer Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2007
    Member:
    #1432
    Messages:
    31,629
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    15 Lariat Sport 5.0L
    Seeing the third gen section forced me to get a Ford...
    never had one pull me out....
     

Products Discussed in

To Top