well, what was suppose to be an alignment done on my truck ended up being an estimate of how much its going to cost for a new trac bar, tie rod, alignment and labor. so instead of being 40 bucks, its going to cost me about $600! that doesnt seem like much but im on a very very low budget since im goin to school and living on my own.

my question is, besides the alignment, is it worth me trying to do the job myself, and if so, where can i find cheap good quality parts?

the last thing i needed was to fork over a big chunk off my wallet
thanks, sal

 

Get the tie rod from napa
and get a 3rd gen trac bar kit to replace your 2nd gen trac bar
I replaced my stock trac bar once and only got 25,000 miles out of it
I replaced it again with a 3rd gen trac bar kit, and that was money well spent.

Don't buy a stock or a stock replacement trac bar, they are junk

 

where can i find a 3rd gen bar and are they relatively cheap?

 

had same thing happen to me on my gas dodge 3/4 ton-forgot to frickin grease the zerks- a $725 mistake!!!!!!!! I went with MOOG from a local parts house

 

I find it hard to beat a $150 lifetime warrantied trackbar from Napa.
Even if it only lasts 25k miles it's no big deal to swap in a new one, ten minute job.
My Napa bars have been lasting about 60-80k though.

3rd gen bar and the relocation kit will run you at least $500, and they wear out too.

 

yeah i was thinking NAPA would be my best option.

so do you think that i can install the track bar and tie rod myself and then just have the shop do the alignment? my time limit would be a saturday, so is it achievable?
thanks for the input guys,
sal

 

Check out a luke links for the track bar. Rock Auto is a good place to get the tie rods cheap (do you know which part you need? There are four parts that are called tie rods ends.)

I just did both. Use the search function for luke and tie rod. You'll find plenty of great info.

 

im guessing the inner tie rod? the part that goes from the wheel to the part that connects to the pitman. the part that connects to the pitman was just replaced a couple of months ago so that doesnt need replacing, just the metal shaft that connects to the passenger side wheel.

 

i just checked out Lukes Link. im thinking am going to go with the rebuild kit for the track bar. as for the tie rod, compared to lukes link diagram, i need the right hand connecting rod, i need to completely replace due to the fact that it is considerably bent.

 

I just tried to install luke's link, turns out I had a moog track bar, it' didn't fit. they do sell re-worked track bars already for the same money as the lifetime ones from the parts stores.

tie rods were made to be straightened!! just ask anyone with a jeep.

kent

 

take a look at the HD parts, i believe for 97-98.
id have to check the years but the parts are beefier.
Im with Infidel, get the warranty part, its an easy swap when they go.
I tried a Lukes link, worked well for a while, then failed.
None of the parts are tough to swap, just a dirty job. align after install, i think the alignment cost me 50 bucks last time.