Hey helpers and experts. I replaced my front end today and I ran into a problem when bringing it to the alignment shop. When I brought it to them the said the tie rods are touching and showed me. They said they're not the right part but I be to differ. I have a 98 blazer 4x4.. Here is the pArts I purchased from eBay http://m.ebay.com/itm/270931181357?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1

The mechanic put the driver side tie rods all the way together while the passenger side are separated by 2.5-3"... How do I fix this situation?? Or do the alignment guys just not know what they're doing?

 

Assuming what is pictured in that kit is what you received, then you have the right parts. As per how one tie rod assembly is cranked shut and the other very open. I have a question, is your steering wheel more off by a significant amount, ie. over 45 degrees? If so my guess is that you installed the pitman arm in the incorrect position and the tie rods are unable to compensate for this. To test it you incorrectly installed it, crank bring the wheels to point straight ahead, then count the # of turns to full left lock , then do the same to count the right. If these are not the same # then the pitman is on wrong.

 

How can the pitman be on wrong if it's simply taken off and put back on?

And if that is the case how do I correct the situation? Thanks for the help btw

 

The pitman arm had 4 gaps in the splines that are 90 degrees from one another, so it can be installed 4 different ways. If it is on wrong, just simply take it off and re install it in a new position. I know for mine I remembered the position the old one was at while on full crank one way and put the new one that same way. As for knowing which way it goes on without reference from the old one, its kind of a crapshoot. But be sure to do the test I mentioned earlier before removing it, I wouldn't want you to have to remove it if you didn't have to.