Why are tie-rod ends some freakin expensive?

[Infinitrium]

Howdy all. Haven't been to this place since I sold my 94 Aspire to my mother. Anyway, her right side outer CV joint is bad so I got the entire shaft from a junkyard 75 bucks. Apparently it came from a car from Onatrio with only 28000 kms. As I was trying to get the shaft out, I noticed the other tie-rod end is pretty loose. I called two places for price quotes. Canadian Tire wants $126, Carquest wants $160. Why the hell are they so expensive? Even a tie-rod end for my brother's Civic isn't that expensive! Would a tie-rod end off a Festiva be any cheaper, and would it fit? At that price I'll have to find one at a junkyard, I am not paying over $100 for one small part! I had to put it all back together, I couldn't even get the shaft out because the big nut on the end by the rotor is so insanely tight. I tried putting a breaker bar on it and broke my breaker bar. I tried putting a ratchet on it, and beating on the ratchet and broke the hammer. I tried heating the nut with a propane torch and it still would not come loose. I think I'll have to take it to a garage just to get the nut loosened!

[FB71]

no, the Festiva tie rod end is different. However, the Escort (91-96) tie rod end is the same...

[Safety Guy]

You broke a breaker bar and a hammer?

Dude, you need BIGGER BADDER tools!!

A-Zone has Escort tie rod ends in "cheap" and "cheaper" compared to Aspire tie rod ends. I'm gonna use them for my next Aspire suspension swap on Lux.

Karl

[Infinitrium]

Well, I checked Canadian Tire, and the outer tie rod for the Aspire has a different part number than the 91-96 Escort tie rod. Are you sure they're the same? Would be nice if they were, the economy outer tie rod for the Escort is just a bit over 30 bucks at Canadian Tire.

[Tim]

You broke a breaker bar and a hammer?

Dude, you need BIGGER BADDER tools!!

Karl

No chinese stuff this time!!

Regards,

Tim