If you understand alignment and the signs of excessive toe-in and of toe-out, I see no issue with measuring the distance between a mark on the tie-rod and the center of the stud, matching that. I've done it many times, and I usually do my own alignments much like pretty much any serious racer, because the factory specs are for regular driving and regular handling with stock tire/wheel sizes and offsets.

One bad ball-joint or one bad tie-rod end does not predict another, any more than a bad wheel bearing on one side predicts failure of the other (example: my '91 300TE 4matic had a bad rear-wheel bearing at 45,000 miles, never another sold at 119,000, ... my '85 Audi quattro had one bad rear wheel bearing at ~60,000 miles, never another in over 200,000 miles). Check with two people, rocking the steering with weight on the front wheels, watch for any play. If no play and the boots are supple, you're fine.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff