Tie rod ends aren't on the forefront of everyone's minds. However, that'll soon change when your Toyota Camry's steering is a little off, and doesn't respond after an alignment. Replacing the tie rod ends is something the amateur mechanic can do.
Make sure you buy tie rod ends that are specific to your Toyota Camry's model year. These do vary from model year to model year, so you want to make sure you get the right ones. The tie rod ends come with new cotter pins as well as castellated nuts.
Disconnect the battery cable from the negative post, and wait 90 seconds or so for the air bag system to deactivate. Loosen the lug nuts with a lug nut wrench, then jack up the car. When your Camry is safely supported on jack stands, remove the wheels.
Take out the cotter pin from the tie rod end with a pair of pliers. Loosen and unscrew the castellated nut with a wrench, then use a two-arm puller to separate the tie rod end from the steering knuckle.
Unscrew the tie rod end, and write down the number of turns it took to remove it. This number will help you when you install the new tie rod ends.
Screw on the new tie rod end, making sure you do it with the same number of turns as it took to remove the original. Slip the tie rod end into the steering knuckle, then screw on the replacement castellated nut, tightening it to 36 foot pounds. Slip in the cotter pin, and repeat the steps for the other tie rod end.
Put back on the tires and tighten the lug nuts to 76 foot pounds, reconnect the battery cable, then get your Camry aligned.
