2006 Volvo S60 AWD - mechanic recommended tie rod replacement, do you agree?

[FMradio]

Repeating what was said above and I think may be going unheard. If it was aligned AND there is no play currently, leave it alone and worry about it next time you need an alignment, which hopefully is like 3 years from now. I often have to heat with torch to get them to turn. At pep boys they want the car done fast so that they can free up the bay and can't let it sit for a day with PB blaster sprayed a few times.

Feld

I appreciate you guys a lot. it's reassuring to hear from you. If there's no play and damage to the rubber boots, I'll leave it alone.
I noticed that after the alignment, my steering wheel and the car still did not track straight, s I'm a little concerned that there is some wear on the tie rods. But I'll check for play and make sure; maybe the shop didn't get it aligned correctly.

[FMradio]

... Do you recommend replacing the ball joints at the same time as the tie rods, or only if there's symptoms that the ball joints are bad?
...

Only with symptoms, such as front end feels "loose" and/or wanders on grooved pavement at highway speeds, ball joint rubber boot is cracked open, ball joint is loose and floppy (can only tell by disconnecting one side of the control arm).

Note the tie rods themselves have ball joints on them, I am not referring to those ball joints but to the control arm ball joint.

I appreciate the clarification. My car front end doesn't feel loose or wonder and I'll check the condition on Sunday along with the tie rods.
I just heard of people's cars breaking ball joints, and it's apparently very dangerous, so I wasn't sure if it's necessary to replace preventatively.

I will also bring the car to my local Volvo mechanic and ask them to check it after I do. I'm hoping to learn how to check the condition myself then confirm it with the mechanic (to learn ). And they're a great mechanic (even gave me a lift home from the shop )

[FMradio]

Hey, maybe the inner tie rod can be removed without using the counterhold with the method in this article that uses a locking plier: https://www.volvohowto.com/how-to-repla ... 0-c70/amp/

[jonesg]

Hey, maybe the inner tie rod can be removed without using the counterhold with the method in this article that uses a locking plier: https://www.volvohowto.com/how-to-repla ... 0-c70/amp/

its better to watch some videos where they do the job on old rusted parts and how they deal with that problem.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... ed+tie+rod

[FMradio]

Hey, maybe the inner tie rod can be removed without using the counterhold with the method in this article that uses a locking plier: https://www.volvohowto.com/how-to-repla ... 0-c70/amp/

its better to watch some videos where they do the job on old rusted parts and how they deal with that problem.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... ed+tie+rod

Thanks, that sounds like a great idea. I have watched a video of how to unscrew a rusted bolt before, but I'll have to learn more.

The video about rusty bolts

[FMradio]

I wanted to make sure that if I decided to remove the nut connecting the outer tie rod to the wheel hub, and it was in good condition, could I reuse the nut? Or do we always recommend replacing that nut after taking it off?

[FMradio]

I'm not planning on removing anything other than the wheel to visually inspect things, unless I can feel play in the wheel (like you suggested). Then I'll try to figure out if the play is coming from the tie rod

[erikv11]

That's a good plan. Yes, you can reuse that nut on the end of the outer tie rod.

[FMradio]

That's a good plan. Yes, you can reuse that nut on the end of the outer tie rod.

Thank you. I actually did not end up taking off the wheel. It had no play in it so I decided to perhaps inspect behind it another day.

But today I received some clarification from the mechanic. I took it to be realigned with my lifetime service, and the mechanic told me I might have a few alignments left that's possible before I have to replace the tie rod. Reason is that normally they could use a wrench to adjust the tie rod (the screw, I think), but on mine they have to use vise grips. So it gets chewed up and may eventually need replacement. (it didn't seem like they were pushing me to replace it as it's okay right now)