Inner Tie rod question

Recently drove home for few days with the parents. When I arrived I heard some slight clunk noise and couldn’t pinpoint it. Finally got under it and found that the inner tie rod seems lose. I just have one issue I have to drive back to work. Does anyone on here thinks it’s safe if I drive it and get it fixed over there or is it super dangerous to drive back 400 miles? I need some honest advice. Thanks guys.

 

I'd fix it before you drive home. Without knowing how close it is to coming apart its hard to feel good driving it that far. ON the bright side its like a 15-minute parking lot job to change an inner tie rod. remove both clamps on the boot slide it towards the outter tie rod get an adjustable wrench and break loose the jam nut from the tie rod and make sure the outer spins freely in the inner. Try to leave the jam nut at close to where it was as possible. Grab a pipe wrench and break the inner free from the rack and spin it off the rack then from the outer tie rod. Reverse steps to install. If you're lucky you won't even need to do an alignment.

 

I ended up finding a shop close to my parents house willing to knock it out same day and they had the parts in stock. I was relieved to know it would be fixed the same day and allow me to go back to work on time. They replaced the tie-rods and replaced my rack n pinion. I think the $1k I paid for same day service and all new parts was very fair. Thank god.

 

This is not really good advice.

It is impossible to retain the alignment by counting threads. I've tried many times.

In addition, the lock nuts on 1st gen Tacomas seem to always be froze up. I've often had to hear them red hot to unjam.

Glad it's fixed.

 

Yea with me driving back and forth 800 miles round trip, it was very unsafe to do it myself. Plus the importance of the alignment too. I guess some things are better left to the professionals. Thanks for your replies.

 

Not to be mean but since the outer has the threaded rod if you leave the jam nut and unscrew the inner and the inners are the same length you can just screw it back flush to the jam nut. No counting threads. If you do 1 side at a time you can adjust the one side until your steering wheel is back straight. Yes, those jam nuts are a toss-up if they come loose easily. Really depends on the last time they were loose. His doesn't look that bad. Glad he got it fixed though. Hate to see it break on the freeway and end up in a ditch. Sounds like he should be good to go.

 

I guess it depends where the truck lives !

I agree with Kirk I have never been able to break the lock nuts with out lots of heat .

Alignment no matter how careful I measured and marked things it was never close.

OP they changed your Steering Rack ? Any warranty documents on the work done. I sure hope the shop installed a good one !!

At least it will get you home.