Tie Rod Replacement

ANSWER : Hi there. I believe what you are hearing from both dealers are what has recently been referred to as "alternative facts". Here is the truth. A suspension alignment is an inspection and adjustment of all the mechanical components that comprise the front end suspension system. Each part needs to be properly "aligned" in order to ensure the tires contact the ground equally for maximum efficiency, handling, braking and performance. The tie rods on ANY vehicle are a part of the suspension system and are often the root cause of a suspension becoming out of alignment. Anytime you replace any suspension component, a suspension alignment SHOULD be completed. So, if the original mechanic completed an alignment on your car and determined the tie rod was damaged and needed repair, the "service" of the alignment check was performed; and should be charged. If it were my shop, I would not have charged for (2) alignments; only one. However, each shop or dealership has different policies. Hope that clarifies the issue.

ANSWER : You are correct, there is no hex pattern machined into the component. There is a special tool that can be used to remove the inner tie rods. Sometimes you can get a large wrench to work. There are only two flat surfaces, 180 degrees apart from each other, machined into the inner tie rods. I have also used a pipe wrench before, but the special tool makes it much easier. You may find loaner tools at you local parts store. If you would like, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to replace the tie rod end for you.

ANSWER : Hello. Though it is good to have balance in your steering system and it is good practice to replace parts on both sides at the same time, you do not need to do that. You onlt need to replace the part that is actually faulty. Once it is replaced the vehicle will need to be aligned. If you are going to have this tie rod replaced, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you to [replace your tie rod] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/tie-rod-end-replacement

ANSWER : Hi there. Unfortunately, diagnosing what type of service may have been performed by a different mechanic without physically inspecting the vehicle is difficult, as is knowing how long your vehicle can be driven with worn out ball joints and tie rods. The problem with worn out suspension parts is that they can fail and break, which can cause an unsafe driving situation.

It might be a better idea to have a professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your location to inspect all the front end components for damage and give you an idea as to how much longer you can drive your vehicle before you must replace the damaged parts or buy a new vehicle.

ANSWER : The tie rod ends for your vehicle, both the inner and the outer ends, are available for separate purchase. If you bought these tie rod ends yourself from an auto parts store, they’re "roughly" $50 each or $200 in total if you bought all four (your vehicle has a total of four). It would be unusual (indeed, exceptional) for tie rod ends to fail on a Nissan with only 36,000 miles on it. If you have a problem with the car, I suggest you get it evaluated by a TRUSTWORTHY, knowledgeable individual. A vehicle with 36,000 miles on it is frankly a brand new vehicle and to be in need of thousands of dollars worth of repairs would be unusual, excepting a circumstance where the vehicle was in a collision, abused, or otherwise damaged. If you have a steering issue, please simply request a steering system evaluation/diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will thoroughly evaluate your vehicle, address your concerns and give you the information you need about any required repairs. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

ANSWER : Hello,
It sounds like the rack and pinion may have been damaged during the process of replacing the tie rods. If you are leaking power steering fluid, I would recommend having the rack and pinion checked. It is also very likely that the alignment was not done properly if the wheel is touching something while it is rotating. I would strongly recommend taking your vehicle back to the facility that serviced it last and ask them to recheck their work. It is very likely that any repairs performed from this point will be covered under warranty. If your vehicle leaves the shop in worse condition than it came in, it is almost always the mechanics fault. If the shop gives you any grief, I would recommend consulting with an attorney.

ANSWER : If you decide to get tie rods from an aftermarket supplier they should be good enough quality to last more than a year. They should meet or exceed factory specifications.

ANSWER : Hi there. It is very likely that the suspension is misaligned which is causing the issues you’re having with the Nissan Altima. Anytime you remove any suspension component, the front end alignment falls out of calibration. This problem gets worse when a new component is installed only on one side (as you’ve indicated in the question above). Tie rods should always be replaced on both sides to reduce the potential of dangerous situations as you have indicated. Once the service has been completed, it’s vital to also have the suspension professionally aligned by a suspension alignment shop. I would take your vehicle to have the alignment checked and set as soon as possible; as they will also be able to tell you if something is not properly installed.