Inner tie rods creaking

[AKJello]

I have this loud creaking in my front end that's driving me #$%&ing nuts. I already replaced my swaybar bushings and that was no help. So I disconnected my outer tie rod and moved it around and it feels like it's the inner tie rod causing it. The dealer says I have to replace the whole rack (idiots) to the tune of $700. A local mech says $200 to replace the inners...is this a good deal? Could I do it myself and how long would it take? I don't have a lot of free time. Any suggestions would help.

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

AK, $200 is a fair price if that is for both sides and includes parts. The tie rod ends themselves are about $25 each.

You can do it yourself, one side at a time, if you feel comfortable with it. After removing the dust cover, you have to remove two small pins that keep the rod end from turning off. They are hard to get to, and a pair of needle nose vise grips is good to remove them. After that, it's just a matter of screwing the end off with a large open-end wrench, and re-assembly.

Be sure and mark both the old and new ends as to the proper length, so the alignment won't be too far off.

 

[cantspell]

Hello,

 

[cantspell]

Hello,
I know this is an old post, but i hate being told to search, etc. ANyways, today, seeminly all of a sudden, i started to get a pretty loud creaking from the front when i turn and/or compress the front suspension. I though it might of been the CV's but it seems to be comming from under the lower control arm nowever i can't really place it, so think it's gotta be the inner tie rods? It was dark, so i couldn't really make it out. Is there any way i can test this - and it is possible for this to just suddenly start???? I swear i didn't feel or hear it thing morrning.

As a side note, I (as many others have) have a clunking in the front end - which i can't always relicate when the car is sitting - could this me what it is?
thanks!

 

[PghBill]

Need Better Symptoms

I just had one of those loud creaks in the front end of my '97 and turned out it was a frozen ball joint.

Check out this thread I started for symtoms.

Dead Link Removed

 

[AKJello]

Front end squeak

I first diagnosed it by holding on to the tierod while someone pushed up and down on the front end. I could feel it in the tierod. Then I just remove the cotter key and nut and lifted the outer tierod out(you may have to whack the mount with a hammer to get it out). I could hear it when I moved it around. The dealer wanted to replace the whole rack to the tune of $700. Found a local tire shop that did it for $200 including alignment. She's quiet now.
I had the clunking in my frontend too. Ended up being my brakes...don't know exactly what on the brakes. My wife took it in while I was away

Good Luck

 

[cantspell]

WEll i'm going to jack up the truck at work today, and and maybe take off the wheel, see what's up. I hope it's nothing i can't fix on my own. I've actully done some off-roading recently, so i'm not that surprised that they may have gone - we'll see.
Thanks

 

[cantspell]

So i got to work, and after the truck warmed up, it stoped squeeking for the most part, and I relaced the sway bar bushing, (after breaking a bolt in there and leaving my sole staff member to fend for him self). ANyways, i'm happy to report, that there is no more clunking in my front end, it's still a little wobbly, but i guess that comes with the lift....