Have a 99 subaru legacy wagon 2.2L with 140,000 miles. Just replaced tires and should probably get wheel alignment. Would it be smart to put on new tie rod ends before getting the alignment? They dont seem loose yet.

 

Also got new rims from tiredirect. Only problem is the lug nuts are too long for the lug nut wrench in the car???

waste of money on both counts. if your previous tires wore well and nothing happened to the vehicle, don't do it. alignments are a waste of money. big gimmick is all it is. i've driven 100,000 miles on vehicles before without getting an alignment. let the tires tell you if you need an alignment, with 4wd they need rotated often anyway, so you have to look at them.

I was getting extra ware and scallopping on the inside of the front tires

if the car stays in it lane, doesnt drift, nor does it follow the break in the cement between lanes, your tie rods are fine.

 

You probably just need an alignment. If you need tierods the shop will tell you.

 

nipper

sounds like you do need an alignment then. i've had excellent results without ever getting alignments and i drive my vehicles off road, so in my oppinion it's a check if needed type situation, which sounds like it might be here.

 

although it does sound a bit odd to me that both were doing it. were the tires properly inflated and rotate their entire life? and were they only warn badly at the very end of their life or did they exhibit this poor wear all the time?

 

any front end work ever done? struts, ball joints, cv axles...etc? an unknowing mechanic could easily do these jobs without properly setting the camber bolt back to it's original position.