Job complete. Replaced inner and outer tie rods on both sides, steering rack boots of course, and installed new front shocks. Need to get an alignment tomorrow, but all seems fairly close on. Ride is clearly improved with the shocks. One of my old shocks, once out, would not rebound back up when compressed like it should, this is interesting since their is no oil seepage like a typical bad shock. Even compressing both old shocks was noticeably easier than the new ones. I guess that's what 100,000 miles does.

I had a bear of a time getting one of the shock top mounts off. The shock nut just would not let go and the shock shaft would spin with the shock regardless of what I tried. I didn't have the proper shock sokcket that holds the shaft...local auto parts stores didn't have one that fit. Vice grips didn't work. Ultimately I had to dremmel the nut apart. Even a nut breaker would not work, since it is recessed low in the shock mount.

Anyhow, all is right with the world again. The shop wanted to replace the steering rack and estimated $1200-1300, just to resolve one bent tie rod and torn rack boot. I did all this for $270 and got new shocks that the shop wasn't going to do. Hmmm, what can I do with the $1000 I saved?

 

Pretty blue silicone hoses!

A set of double-5s?

Down payment on a new engine? (Don't ask...)

Congrats!!! Well done.

 

Maybe a really good dinner at a nice restaurant, top down drive to said restaurant (weather permitting), and you would still have around $900 for other stuff