Ford Repair: Mazda 626, inner tie rods, unfortunatly

Question
QUESTION: Hi Chris-

On a 2001 Mazda626, v6, need to change the inner tie rods and rented the special too to take them off. Other than removing the boot and the outer tie rod, is it pretty straight forward? IS there any risk to damaging the rack as they are removed?

Thanks for the reply

ANSWER: hey there. inner tie rods are a pretty striaght forward job, just make sure to use a little lock tight on the threads and make sure to tighten them good, also dont forget to secure the boot properly so you wont have to do these tie rods again anytime soon,  counting threads and any other method like that will not get your alignment even close to straight, so make sure to send it out for an alignment when you are done.
good luck
Chris P

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Chris- one more question.

The automatic trans has a serviceable filter if I remove the pan. I have had the flush done at 35,000. The car now has 65,000. Do you recommend the flush again or dropping the pan and replacing the  Trans filter?

2001 626, v6 automatic

Answer
hey there, everybody has there own opinion when it come to this kind of service, if i had it my way the filter would be changed and all the fluid would be flushed, but unfortunatly that gets very costly. most manufacturers do recomend trans servises on vehicles at 50 000 kilometer intervals. either way you go it is about the same. good luck
Chris P