Brand recommendations for inner and outer tie rods

Hello,
I am posting today because I was seeking brand ecommendations for inner and outer tie rod ends. I wanted to buy OEM Toyota parts, but two outer tie rods are 125 bucks and inners are around 240 bucks, therefore I'm seeking a slightly less expensive alternative. Any help is appreciated thank you!

 

It comes down to just how you use your Truck.

Anymore I go to Napa if I don`t use Toyota because they both deliver.

Rock Auto might be an option for some people. They will not ship to my location.

 

After messing with several diff brands and designs....

this napa one is the one I'm going with...

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NCD2693136?impressionRank=11

Tie Rod End - Inner NCD 2693137 | Buy Online - NAPA Auto Parts (napaonline.com)

 

I used Sankei 555 brand on the inners, and toyota on the outers, or I might have that reversed, I can't remember

 

Thank you for the recommendation. I think I'll go with the Napa inners and Toyota outers. I've never tried Napa parts before, but I definitely will never use Autozone suspension parts.

 

Thank you for the recommendation. So far, you're the second person to recommend Napa parts, so I'll definitely go with the inners from Napa and probably the outers from Toyota.

 

Thank you for the recommendation. How long have you had the Sankei 555 installed on your truck?

 

I use Proforged for LBJ, ITR and OTR. Like said above it really depends on how you use the vehicle. I use mine more on hard trails then on the street. Because of how I use it I rebuild the front end at least twice a year so I'm not worried about them totally failing before I replace them. I've had OEM go to shit after 4 months and have had Proforged go to shit after 4 months. For how often I replace them Proforged work great for me. I've never had one fail on the trail. I have had an OEM outer fail on the trail. My rigs a 97 4Runner but the front ends are damn near the same.

OEM outer that failed on the Dusy.

 

I bought mine at Rockauto. Just don't buy the cheapest ones, they may not fit. That's what happened for 1 set I ordered. I just went to O'Reilly's and got a good set.

 

On these rear wheel drive 5 luggers.......
really think LBJ's at about 50K....
about 30min a side with only two bolts....

And these little tiny outter tie rods.....I check mine about 10k...
stick new ones on there every 25K.......
Takes about 15min a side....dont even have to take wheel off....

I damaged the pass side one when I had a brain fart and didnt use that tool right.....and it got real loose after only 10K..........Hence the napa......old one was dura last guaranteed FOREVER......

These are some of the Achillies heels of these rwd 5 luggers....


As far as the inner....never heard of one of them failing...not on the rwd's non pre-runners...
so I'd just buy as good as you can get.......maybe every 100k or so......
Its really all about the boot on this one......I keep an extra set of bellows.....and I treat the old ones with plastic preservitive that scotty recommends....the plexus, or the ATP.........or the 'Mothers'.....

 

maybe a year or a little longer. So far no complaints.

 

3 5’s from advance under $100 for both outers.




they did not include the locknut, so I ordered from my local Toyota, 2.50 each.
Comes with castle and cotter though

 

Napa premium in-house......

 

https://lowrangeoffroad.com/toyota/tacoma-1995-2004-hilux-1997-2004/steering.html

Go with 555's for sure.

 

I could be rong.....but it looks like some of the moog is rebranded 555....
at least the 'cast' part..


Ball Joint K90260: Advance Auto Parts

 

You're link had no rwd parts in stock....none he needed..
however there was a steering shaft firewall seal I need in there ...

You all keep throwing 4X4 parts out there.....
Are you trying to convert himmmmmm.....
are we just 2wd trailer trash.....

"THE 5 LUGGERS".........

 

Can confirm, my moog LBJs were stamped 555:

 

also should note they do not come with any sort of anti-corrosion coating so after the first rain, they will start showing rust...

 

Yeah that's what sold me on the napa.....all their in house premo stuff comes epoxy coated......a seal is alot more likely to fail on a corroded piece of metal...

maybe not earth shattering on tierods....but on the napa eclipse calipers, they were the best I could find....