Suggestions on Tie rods

I have tried finding a thread regarding what’s the best option for outter tie rods for my truck and I couldn’t find anything. I do take my truck on dirt trails frequently for bird hunting I’m not sure if that changes anything. Any suggestions on what to get? Thank you!

 

OEM

 

Best to start here for most stuff: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

But for this topic, I'd go here to know what to accept/avoid: https://www.tundras.com/threads/1st-gen-parts-corner-of-shame-oem-minus-or-plus.122591/

Anyway, @KNABORES is right. as usual.

• Do you want to go cheaper, then have to replace them again in 3-4 years, and hope inferior part quality doesn't/didn't compromise anything else? Then go aftermarket, you'll spend about $25-35 for a low-to-mid-grade part when ordering thru RockAuto.
• Do you want something that will last you 10-15 years like the original? Then go OEM, you'll spend about $50 if you order online (and may even be able to pick up that online order at a local dealership). I can help you find the right part# or just use THIS INFO.
• In the end, you'll be buying 3 aftermarket parts to 1 OEM part in the same number of years - which seems wiser to you?
• tl;dr - most of the time, aftermarket parts are a stop-gap band-aid to get you by for a few more years.

But really, all I see on Rock Auto is cheap shit, brands I'd never trust. Mevotech, Centric, or Beck Arnley? No thanks! And the sub-$20 offerings I see, I've never even heard of and I've been wrenching for decades.

I have an unspoken rule of thumb: Knowing aftermarket part quality is utter garbage since at least the turn of the 2000s, as long as the OEM part doesn't cost more than 3x-4x more than a 'decent quality' name brand I recognize, I'll just buy OEM.

But I've been on this rodeo a long time and seen some shit. I've also, probably like @KNABORES & others here, sat and watched over the years as aftermarket quality continued to decline, as company's interests in the consumer plummeted, but their appetite for huge profit margins exploded.

 

My Mevotechs immediately failed. Like 3 weeks in they are clunking. My Moog replacements failed slowly over 2-3years, never felt like these OEM I just put back on. They’re not cheap. But they are good.

 

I dunno, I was shocked to see the outers for my '06 (RH @ 45046-09210, LH @ 45047-09090) are only $57.44 at Serra Birmingham.

I may end up scoring a new pair at the next 20-30% off sale. If AT-205 doesn't shore up this leak with my LH inner in the next few months, I may end up having to look at picking up some inners for the not-so-distant future...

 

Awesome thank you everyone!

 

Mine were $48 a piece. I misunderstood them as being a set, they were not. I only received the RH for $48. Had to order a LH, also $48. But, $100 for another 200k miles isn’t bad.

 

I called my local Toyota dealer and they quoted me $90 a piece -.-

 

That's why you order online because most dealers are that way

 

This ^^

x1,000

Read the "THIS INFO" link I posted above.

Then see if that dealership participates via https://autoparts.toyota.com

If it does, and they discount through the national site, order online, and walk in, talk some shit to them about their gouging while you pick up $100 for the pair at the exact same parts counter that quoted you $90/ea.

If they don't, buy your parts from https://autoparts.serratoyota.com and enjoy free shipping and no tax, then wait 4-7 days for delivery.

tl;dr - If you go to the parts counter, like the "THIS INFO" thread informs you, they will charge you MSRP. You will not pay MSRP when ordering online through the national site most of the time, even if you pickup at the same dealership parts counter that's quoting MSRP.

Knowledge is power.

​

 

Ditto @shifty` and @KNABORES posts


I recently replaced mine. Due to time constraints I tried another brand from a local parts store that was close by and in stock. The difference in quality was obvious

I went ahead and ordered a pair of them online from a Toyota dealership much cheaper than the local Toyota dealerships. OEM is noticeably superior quality and worth a few extra bucks