02 ML320 how hard to replace tie rods?
 

Pep Boys wants $425 (includes $160 labor) to replace inside and outside tie rods on passenger side. How hard is this to do? The quote was about $90 for one tie rod and $120 for the other. Not sure what the rest of the cost was.

Should I attempt this myself, never having even looked at one?

I watched a youtube video and it looks pretty easy to replace the outside and inside tie rods on the ML320. However my experience is that in reality it is usually quite a bit more difficult than it looks online.

The inside tie rod requires rental of a special tool from Pep Boys. For the outside tie rod on youtube the guy just pounded it from the bottom - he hit the crown nut - with a rubber mallet and it came out easily. Do I need a pickel fork tool (is that what it is called) to separate the outside tie rod from whatever it is attached to?

What I did not like was the fact that he used a zip tie to secure the rubber boot on the inside tie rod. He called the inside metal clamp a sacrificial clamp which could not be reused and he actually used a zip tie instead of a metal clamp. He said that some of the tie rod kits included a new metal clamp but he did not have one.

On the other hand the labor is only $150 so I am questioning whether it is worth my time and effort or should I go to Pep Boys?

What do you guys think? I see that Peachparts has the tie rods for about $20-30 each compared to $100 at Pep Boys.

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Replacing inner and outer will be potentially easier than trying to get the crusty, seized outers loose. If you do end up doing just the outers start by removing the jamb nut and soak everything in pb blaster. If (when) that isn't enough, get a torch and heat up the outer rod for a million years then try to loosen the inner. Try to only use an open end wrench too. Only use a pipe wrench as an absolute last resort

OK, need to look at the video again. Thx.