Inner Tie Rod/Wheel Alignment Issue!!!
01-08-14, 07:52 AM
#1
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Inner Tie Rod/Wheel Alignment Issue!!!
Lexus: GX 470 2003
I went to go get a wheel alignment (when driving my car starts drifting to the left hard/ also when my hands aren't on wheel) and they discovered that my front left tie rod is wobbly (also said lower ball joint is suspect). I was told they couldn't perform a complete wheel alignment until fixing the front left tie rod first.
Overall to fix/part/wheel alignment, the quote is
Labor: 223.97
Parts: 71.13 (I seen online for about 50 dollars cheaper??)
ENVIRO/DISPO: 23.61
Sales Tax: 5.68
Total: 324.39 (After 40.00 coupon)
Is this a good deal or anyone know anyplace with better prices? I'm located in Northern Virginia.
I went to go get a wheel alignment (when driving my car starts drifting to the left hard/ also when my hands aren't on wheel) and they discovered that my front left tie rod is wobbly (also said lower ball joint is suspect). I was told they couldn't perform a complete wheel alignment until fixing the front left tie rod first.
Overall to fix/part/wheel alignment, the quote is
Labor: 223.97
Parts: 71.13 (I seen online for about 50 dollars cheaper??)
ENVIRO/DISPO: 23.61
Sales Tax: 5.68
Total: 324.39 (After 40.00 coupon)
Is this a good deal or anyone know anyplace with better prices? I'm located in Northern Virginia.
01-08-14, 10:58 AM
#2
Lexus Champion
Lexus: GX 470 2003
I went to go get a wheel alignment (when driving my car starts drifting to the left hard/ also when my hands aren't on wheel) and they discovered that my front left tie rod is wobbly (also said lower ball joint is suspect). I was told they couldn't perform a complete wheel alignment until fixing the front left tie rod first.
Overall to fix/part/wheel alignment, the quote is
Labor: 223.97
Parts: 71.13 (I seen online for about 50 dollars cheaper??)
-Those are NOT OEM parts, just so you know.
ENVIRO/DISPO: 23.61
Sales Tax: 5.68
Total: 324.39 (After 40.00 coupon)
Is this a good deal or anyone know anyplace with better prices? I'm located in Northern Virginia.
I went to go get a wheel alignment (when driving my car starts drifting to the left hard/ also when my hands aren't on wheel) and they discovered that my front left tie rod is wobbly (also said lower ball joint is suspect). I was told they couldn't perform a complete wheel alignment until fixing the front left tie rod first.
Overall to fix/part/wheel alignment, the quote is
Labor: 223.97
Parts: 71.13 (I seen online for about 50 dollars cheaper??)
-Those are NOT OEM parts, just so you know.
ENVIRO/DISPO: 23.61
Sales Tax: 5.68
Total: 324.39 (After 40.00 coupon)
Is this a good deal or anyone know anyplace with better prices? I'm located in Northern Virginia.
**Driving with a damaged tie rod is dangerous to not only you but others around you on the road. Get it fixed ASAP!
01-08-14, 12:38 PM
#3
Pole Position
The labor seems a little high. Even if labor was $100 per hour, it's not going to take over 2hrs. to replace an inner tie rod. I guess if the alignment is adding it, it's not that bad. A non-dealer alignment shouldn't be any more than $50-$60, so if you're fine with paying that cost, do it.
**Driving with a damaged tie rod is dangerous to not only you but others around you on the road. Get it fixed ASAP!
**Driving with a damaged tie rod is dangerous to not only you but others around you on the road. Get it fixed ASAP!
If you are mechanically inclined, you could buy a good set of 'pickle forks', a 2 1/2 pound hammer, the tie rod ends and ball joints and do the job yourself. Then bring the truck in for an alignment. (Moog makes very good replacement ball joints and tie rod ends.)
I did a complete front end overhaul on my Honda CRX. Alignment shop told me they don't usually work on cars with owner replaced steering parts, but they'd take a look. Long story short, they DID do the alignment and the shop owner offered me a job (no thanks).
01-08-14, 08:10 PM
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Yeah, get that fixed ASAP! A bad ball joint can get you killed. Or at the least very embarrassed when a wheel folds in/out. You could try some other shops for a better price, but don't drive very far or very fast! Your price quote does not seem out of line if the shop does QUALITY work and uses QUALITY parts. Any on-line reviews on this shop or other shops in your area?
If you are mechanically inclined, you could buy a good set of 'pickle forks', a 2 1/2 pound hammer, the tie rod ends and ball joints and do the job yourself. Then bring the truck in for an alignment. (Moog makes very good replacement ball joints and tie rod ends.)
I did a complete front end overhaul on my Honda CRX. Alignment shop told me they don't usually work on cars with owner replaced steering parts, but they'd take a look. Long story short, they DID do the alignment and the shop owner offered me a job (no thanks).
If you are mechanically inclined, you could buy a good set of 'pickle forks', a 2 1/2 pound hammer, the tie rod ends and ball joints and do the job yourself. Then bring the truck in for an alignment. (Moog makes very good replacement ball joints and tie rod ends.)
I did a complete front end overhaul on my Honda CRX. Alignment shop told me they don't usually work on cars with owner replaced steering parts, but they'd take a look. Long story short, they DID do the alignment and the shop owner offered me a job (no thanks).
01-09-14, 12:42 AM
#5
Steering parts are actually fairly simple to replace, Especially on Rack and Pinion systems like ours. As long as you own a few of the basic cheap tools needed, a tie rod could be done in less than an hour easily
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