Inner Tie Rods, Spindle Rod, Strut Assemble. Replacement

[fri3dchick3n]

Well I have found out that I have the following that arent working properly and need to be replaced:

Inner Tie Rod Ends

How hard would it be to change them out myself. I believe I wil need a special tool that will make it a lot easier.
Which brand do you recommend to replace them with? Is there a write up for this job?
Should I just replace the whole Rack and Pinion?

Spindle Rod

I have also found that the Left Rear rod is pretty bent up, dont see how it got so bad but needs to be gone asap.
Found one on GM Parts Direct for $75 with shipping. Not too bad I guess. Any other brands you guys might prefer?
I checked it out, and it looks like it might a straight forward replacement?

Strut Assemblies

Left Rear one is leaking and the coil spring hitting something on the body of the car I guess. I want to replace the two rear ones here soon and the front ones a little bit later on.
I was maybe thinking GMPP ones. I know this will be a lot of a personal opinion, but which ones have you guys had a nice experience with? Or which ones should I stay away from?


Any tips on these things? It would be nice to get this all fixed here soon.

Thanks in advance for your help once again

[dsmuts]

You have to have the inner tie rod tool to do them.

[fri3dchick3n]

You have to have the inner tie rod tool to do them.

Do you remember by any chance what it's called?

[Pure2sin]

A crows foot IIRC

[BillBoost37]

Inner tie rod tool... it's named appropriately. Most parts stores do the loaner thing with it.

What's a rear spindle rod, you mean lateral arm that got bent when tow truck driver used it as a hook point?

[dsmuts]

Yeah it's an inner tie rod tool. I have 2 of them laying in the garage. I need to get rid of one but I'm sure it would be really expensive to ship.

[BillBoost37]

Once you get home with the kid. See what it takes to 06082 and toss me a pm with a idea of what you'd want shipped.

[dsmuts]

Ok i'll let you know. I bought a new one with different size ends because stupid fords take a different size. So I have the one for the gm extra laying around used once.

[BillBoost37]

Funny thing is.. I'd probably never use it.

[dsmuts]

Thats what I thought and I used my new one 4 times so far

[fri3dchick3n]

Inner tie rod tool... it's named appropriately. Most parts stores do the loaner thing with it.

What's a rear spindle rod, you mean lateral arm that got bent when tow truck driver used it as a hook point?

Yea probably a lateral arm. Could've been a tow truck after all -.- Not cool. Heres a few pics.

[BillBoost37]

Exactly what it is. Someone fst posted yesterday about how to swap them. Might be worth the read. I posted how to do it, with pics.

[fri3dchick3n]

Yea I skimmed through that thread yesterday. I'll reread it again. Any suggestion on strut assemblies, I wouldn't mind oem but don't want to pay so much for them, the way my car sits right now is how I like it. If I replace with stock springs it'll rise up a few inches and look retarted.


Should I just replace the one lateral arm or both sides?

[Scottydoggs]

if your short on cash you can get a used one from a jy, all news gonna cost a few bucks.

i was thinking of doing this for some time as i can see most of my bushing look dry rotted, i was looking at one of these upgrade kits, or from another vendor. and they are not cheap lol

1996 - 2006 W-Body Packages | Complete Suspension Packages, Control Arm Packages, Strut Tower Brace Packages | BMR Suspension Products & Parts

[fri3dchick3n]

Damn, those packages are pretty spendy. Would be nice to have them though haha. I can for sure check out some junkyards. Framing houses is keeping me pretty busy all day though.

So driving like this.. How bad is it for the tires or the car in general. Theres a little bit of vibration and the car slowly turns to the right while driving, not as bad as I expected the car to react.

[dsmuts]

You could heat it up with a torch and try bending it back some. Definatly not a long term fix though.

[BillBoost37]

how bad the alignment is ...is how bad it is for the car/tire.

[fri3dchick3n]

how bad the alignment is ...is how bad it is for the car/tire.

How bad is it for the tire/car to drive around with a bent lateral arm and maybe a a messed up strut also.

[BillBoost37]

Put a shoe on your left foot. Now pull another left shoe out of the closet and put it on your right foot. That's likely the best analogy/explantion to what I can think about how it is to the car.

It might not hurt much at first..but over time it's likely going to be a real issue.

[indygrandprix]

The way its bent it's going to give you positive camber and toe the tire outwards so it will wear the outside edge of the tire pretty quickly. Just get it fixed as soon as possible if your worried about the tire