The Grand Am is a grand vehicle, but occasionally you'll have to replace the tie rod ends, especially when they have too much give, or your car won't track straight even after it's been aligned. No worries: This is something you can do yourself.
Make sure you buy the right tie rod ends for your Pontiac Grand Am. These often come with the nuts and cotter pins (think glorified bobby pin).
Open the hood, and disconnect the cable on the negative pole of the batter. Loosen the lug nuts, jack up the Grand Am, then support in on jack stands. Remove the wheels.
Take out the cotter pin with a pair of pliers, then loosen and remove the tie rod ball stud nut located near the steering knuckle.
Loosen the pinch bolts of the outer tie rod, then separate the tie rod from the steering knuckle with a puller.
Unscrew the tie rod end from the adjuster, keeping careful track of the number of turns it takes. Write that number down.
Screw on the outer tie rod, making sure you make the same number of turns it took to remove it (see Section 1, Step 5).
Insert the outer tie rod's ball stud into the steering knuckle, then tighten the bolt to 35 foot pounds. Slip in a new cotter pin.
Repeat Sections One and Two for the other tie rod end, then reconnect the cable to the battery. Reinstall the tires, and tighten the lug nuts to 100 foot pounds.
