#31440, "RE: tie rod replacement questions" In response to In response to 5
If you tightened the inner tie rod on to the rack and bent the tabs on the metal lock washer correctly, there should theoretically be no way for it to unthread it self that far. Also note that if the inner tie rod was unthreaded to the point of falling off, you would have serious toe-in that you should have felt driving it over there.
When I installed my Pro-kits and Ingalls camber kits I took it to a local shop to have it aligned, and they told me it was too low and my car was a liability to put on the rack. So I had to head back, take the front bumper off, and go back. Then they told me the driver's side inner tie rod was loose and they quoted me something around 300.00 to do it. I drove back again, went to Auto-zone and bought the new tie rod for 20.00, got the specialty tool from NAPA for 50, and changed it in less than 45 minutes. Went back again and finally got the alignment done.
