I own a 2006 V70 and just put new tires on. Asked for an alignment to be done & was told they can not do it completely because the tie rods apparently are threaded to near the very end. I accepted this and took car home.

They want to replace both the outer and inner tie rods on both sides. I was thinking… why can I simply undo the outer at the wheel then twist it several turns on both sides. That way I am not replacing the parts which are still fine. Worst case…it what they are saying is correct, can just the outer rod be replaced and threaded to where it needs to be in order to make adjustments on alignment?

Also, I guess I do not understand how they can be twisted out to the point of it being nearly to last thread & having it that way not drastically affecting the car’s tracking path. After all, inner & outer tie rods made for a particular vehicle should be a specific length right? The designers make them so when treaded around the middle point of the threads it is the best. To have them threaded way out on end threads would be very bad alignment yet I’ve been driving the car for 3 years like this & up to now it seems fine.

any thoughts you have are appreciated. I would much rather have a shop deal with the tie rods already there overall but maybe I’m overlooking something

 

I'd suggest a second opinion - from a shop that is not just a tire store. (you might find a smarter tech)

If they are saying a tie rod is too short on one side - sure you could twist left and right to make up for that, then and in an older car just recenter the steering wheel. Your car has a steering angle sensor that would not be oriented correctly if you did that.

 

had the car had any recent work on the tie rods? Wondering if a wrong part was installed. If not, +1 on what Hoonk suggested.