Even the Plymouth Neon needs some attention when the tie rod ends become too loose or damaged. No amount of alignments will rectify the situation: you must replace the tie rod ends. Fortunately, you can do this yourself.
Buy tie rod ends that are specific for your Plymouth Neon. These vary from model year to model year, and often come with nuts and cotter pins.
Loosen the lug nuts on the front tires, but don't remove them. Jack up your Neon, then support it on jack stands. Remove the tires.
Remove the nut that secured the tie rod end to the steering knuckle. Slip an 11/32 socket over the tie rod end stud while you loosen the nut with a box wrench.
Use a side tie rod puller to separate the tie rod end from the steering knuckle.
Loosen the jam nut that secures the tie rod to the outer tie rod, and pull the collar down from the tie rod end. Mark the jam nut's position on the threaded portion of the tie rod.
Take the collar off from the tie rod end if you have a 1998 to 1999 Plymouth Neon. Unscrew the tie rod end, counting the number of turns it takes to do so. Write this number down.
Screw on the new jam nut that comes with the new tie rod ends. If you have a 1995 to 1997 Plymouth Neon, slip the outer tie rod into the inner tie rod, and put the collar on the inner tie rod so the flat portion is against the jam nut, and the end opens toward the tie rod end.
Put the collar on the outer tie rod if you have a 1998 to 1999 Plymouth Neon, and screw on the jam nut down the inner tie rod so it secures the collar in place. You don't have to tighten the jam nut yet.
Place the tie rod end in the steering knuckle. Tighten the nut that secures the tie rod to the steering knuckle to 45 foot pounds. If you hold the tie rod end stud with an 11/32 socket while tightening the nut with a torque wrench, you'll find it works pretty well.
Make sure the collar is in the right place before you tighten the jam nut. Tighten the jam nut to 40 foot pounds.
Repeat Sections 1 and 2 for the other tie rod end, then reinstall the tires. Tighten the lug nuts to 80 to 110 foot pounds, then get your Plymouth Neon aligned.
