Replacing Tie Rods and Ball Joints Question

[Justinj360]

I'm new to tie rods and ball joints so this might be a stupid question. My 2004 Yukon needs new ball joints and tie rods so I'm wondering if they all need to be replaced at the same time or if I can change the tie rods first and then replace the ball joints later down the road. Would that cause extra wear on the new tie rods somehow? Seems like if the ball joints can't keep the wheels from wobbling and being perfectly straight then that would be bad for the tie rods.

 

[jaywoo65]

I'd do it all at once since you're going to have to do an alignment anyway. Better just one than two. Might think about the pitman arm and idler arm while you're doing the rest.

 

[Justinj360]

I'd do it all at once since you're going to have to do an alignment anyway. Better just one than two. Might think about the pitman arm and idler arm while you're doing the rest.

So does it need to be aligned after you replace the pitman and idler arms?

 

[jaywoo65]

Couldn't hurt but i don't think you would absolutely have to. Might depend on how worn the arms were.

 

[Danzigman]

I just replaced the tierods (inner and outer) , pitman, idler and idler bracket. You will need a front end alignment afterwards.

 

[Justinj360]

I just replaced the tierods (inner and outer) , pitman, idler and idler bracket. You will need a front end alignment afterwards.

What if you were just doing the pitman and idler arms and the idler bracket? Would it need an alignment for just those parts?

 

[Danzigman]

If you are sure to hold the steering wheel in place you should be ok, but everything I read says that you need to align afterwards.

 

[SnowDrifter]

What if you were just doing the pitman and idler arms and the idler bracket? Would it need an alignment for just those parts?

It would still be good practice.

 

[shreksbrother]

What if you were just doing the pitman and idler arms and the idler bracket? Would it need an alignment for just those parts?

Just a suggestion (if you are in the US) so you do not have to debate whether or not to get an alignment... Firestone offers a lifetime alignment. Any time I do suspension work it goes in for an alignment and costs me nothing. I think it was $199, and was money well spent.

Sears offers one, too, but buyer beware! If you read the small print, any suspension work done on the vehicle must be done by them or they will cancel the lifetime alignment. It happened to me!

 

[Justinj360]

Just a suggestion (if you are in the US) so you do not have to debate whether or not to get an alignment... Firestone offers a lifetime alignment. Any time I do suspension work it goes in for an alignment and costs me nothing. I think it was $199, and was money well spent.

Sears offers one, too, but buyer beware! If you read the small print, any suspension work done on the vehicle must be done by them or they will cancel the lifetime alignment. It happened to me!

I haven't heard of that before. I'll definitely have to check into it! That would've saved me a lot of money already. Wait Sears works on vehicles?