I just put new tie rods in today, and I'm pretty darn sure I did everything right. I used a pickle fork, but was pretty gentle with the hammer. I counted threads so I could get my new tie rods to be the same length. I put everything back together and took it for spin. When I am driving slowly and I turn sharp, it pulls itself further into the turn pretty hard. The wheels aren't visibly out of allignment and it doesn't really pull when I'm going straight. I just need to make it drivable to the allignment shop. Is this really screwed up toe in/out? or did I bend something?

__________________
"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go"
1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles

http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif

what is happening from your description.

sorry.

could you elaborate?

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I figured out what was wrong. I took a telescoping broom stick to use as a spreader bar and learned that I had so much toe-in that I started laughing. I adjusted the tie rods and it steers pretty true now. I felt like a genius with a captal J. Next time, I'll just forget about counting threads, on closer inspection I noticed that the new and old rods were different.

__________________
"spreading a trail of obnoxious where ever we go"
1981 300sd w/ 341,500 miles

http://www.wecrash.com/pics/ddda_banner.gif

Don't they normally use a spreader bar on the 123 cars for front-end alignments?

bnc

It may "look" like its in alignment, but you could be way off.

__________________
1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Yes, and add caster and camber in addition to the toe-in you likely partly corrected with your extendable broom stick. The mechanic has to use a spreader bar to even attempt full alignment. Have a pro align it and you will be pleased.

How long did it take to replace the tie rods?

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John