I just put all new steering linkage in and I need to adjust the tie rods well enough for a quick trip on the highway back to my apartment where I will soon have the alignment done (Midas is three blocks away). I didn't turn the steering wheel or tires during installation, so everything should be close to how it was before. Now, for my question. If I take my car off the ramps and put the steering wheel in the center and the tires look pretty straight, am I good for a quick trip (everything is torqued back up to spec)?

Any other hints to make sure I did the job well?

 

Bump. Come on guys, I need to finish this up today.

 

I did the same swap on my last thirdgen. Take off the inner and outer tie rods with the adjuster sleeve as is. Then you can match your new pieces to the correct length of the old pieces. This worked for me and was more than safe. If everything is torqued and greased properly, it's safe for a trip home to the alignment shop

Adam

 

You're too late, but thanks. I did match the sizes but it didn't quite go together easily, so I made some adjustments. I think both tires were turned in because it slowed down a lot when I shifted. But, I made it home. So, to the alignment shop!

 

I did that (matched old inner+sleeve+outer length to new inner+sleeve+outer length), and wound up with the tires pointing funny directions. By that point, I was so fed up with the job that I didn't care. It was enough to make it to an alignment shop, though- at, like, 5 mph!

 

Ah, Tom, I knew you would eventually reply. I was reading up on your rebuild (from last summer?), and I noticed that you said on one side of the car, the tie rod ends actually met in the middle of the sleeve. I had the same issue (all Moog parts). Alignment on Thursday!

Also, I had an annoying experience with the parts. Three had right-hand threads and one had left-hand threads when I took them out of the boxes, even though the numbers on the boxes were two and two.

 

Alright! The alignment is done. She steers awesome now. Now I just need to fix the dragging brake (I think) and the rag joint and she will be like new.