2000 Boxster - tie rods

Hi folks - has anyone had experience changing/replacing the inner tie rods in the front of the car? A mechanic has advised this is worn and causing a lot of the clunking noise I can hear almost all the time when the car is in motion. With the car on a lift that lifts from the wheels......and by having someone push up/down on the front of the car while it's on this lift, we could hear noise and feel vibration from around the inner tie rod and where it goes into some boot (towards the center of the car).

Car has about 70k on it and none of the suspension/steering has ever been replaced to this point.

Is there anything else that should always be replaced/done instead of just replacing the inner tie rod (other than an allignment)? Visually the mechanic didn't see any other worn parts.

Also the price is about $600 total (includes parts/labor and the allignment). Is this reasonable?

The drop links can certainly make a loud clunking noise over rough terrain.
The mechanic is correct. The ball joints wear and clunk.
Replacing the drop links doesn't require an alignment (unless the car needs it).
They are about $100.00 each from the dealer but there are cheaper aftermarket versions.
To replace them is also very easy. Two nuts on each one and it can be done with the car on the ground.
It'll be easier to remove the tire and work on that corner.
Happy Boxstering,
Pedro

Pedro Bonilla
1998 Boxster 986 - 311,000+ miles: [www.PedrosGarage.com]
PCA National Club Racing Scrutineer - PCA National HPDE Instructor - PCA Technical Committee (Boxster/Cayman)

---

Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar

"Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting" ... Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney in "LeMans"

"If you wait, all that happens is that you get older"... Mario Andretti

"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose" ... Ayrton Senna

Hi Pedro - the 'drop links' and 'ball joints' you mention - assume you are talking about different parts than the inner tie rods? Is there any resource online you know of that shows all these parts and where they would be in relation to these inner tie rods (those I saw)
Thanks

[www.porsche.com]

Thanks Harvey - that's handy to have. I'm going to post about a related problem separately.