Stupid Me

[Lewis]

Well folks when I put on my out tie rods ends, about 4 months ago, I should have changed the inner tie rods too, now tomorrow morning I have to do it. I had to go to Auto Zone today and rent the inner tie rod tool for 37 dollars and 80 cents, and 10 more bucks and I could buy it, and maybe I should. But they make sure that if you run off with it they got 37 bucks at least.

 

[Lewis]

Hey Jason, I bet you my ball joints will go next. :D

 

[jasoncran]

Hey Jason, I bet you my ball joints will go next. :D

what are you working on? the escort?

are familiar with checking the ball joints on your car?

my ranger has almost 100k miles the tie rods are still oe.

but not the 4 ball joints.

air tools and a die grinder and air hammer and press make it easy to remove and install them ball joints.

 

[Lewis]

Yeah I can borrow my dads compressor if I need it, if not a good ole breaker bar works. And yes it is the Escort.

 

[Pard]

Truck goes in tomorrow to get new tie rods. The right one is snapped and the left is on the way...

My dad won't let me fix it myself, he doesn't realize that I am a very competent auto-mechanic. I've replaced about a dozen tie rods, and one in the GM equal to the Silverado. Oh well, his money, his truck...

 

[Mike]

I was thinking I should change my avatar. I can't even remember the reason I put this one up.

And here I thought it was just me. Lewis, that dancing avatar is liable to provoke seizures if you look at it long enough. I would listen to your own instincts and replaced that horrible, horrible thing.

 

[jasoncran]

Truck goes in tomorrow to get new tie rods. The right one is snapped and the left is on the way...

My dad won't let me fix it myself, he doesn't realize that I am a very competent auto-mechanic. I've replaced about a dozen tie rods, and one in the GM equal to the Silverado. Oh well, his money, his truck...

i'll bet the idler arms are just as bad. gm spec on those 1/2"play. :crazy

 

[Pard]

Truck goes in tomorrow to get new tie rods. The right one is snapped and the left is on the way...

My dad won't let me fix it myself, he doesn't realize that I am a very competent auto-mechanic. I've replaced about a dozen tie rods, and one in the GM equal to the Silverado. Oh well, his money, his truck...

i'll bet the idler arms are just as bad. gm spec on those 1/2"play. :crazy

What's really bad is the play in the steering wheel... I have about 18 degress of play, 9 in each direction, before the wheels start to respond to turning. I prefer my play at about 2 degrees for a 12" wheel.

Since this is something that is a per-user preference, you'd thank Chevy would have a easy way to change this... nope! I took the column off and apparently the only way to fix it is down in the dashboard, but you have to disable the airbag first and then take the column all the way out and then do some other stupid things...

 

[jasoncran]

are you talking about the u joints in the collumn or the rag joint? the rag joint is an easy fix and 2" of play is way too much. check the worm gear lash in the gear box as well.

 

[Pard]

are you talking about the u joints in the collumn or the rag joint? the rag joint is an easy fix and 2" of play is way too much. check the worm gear lash in the gear box as well.

Nah, it's something low down. Costs about 100 bucks. It's to do with a worm gear or something that keeps crunching and is loose.