Replacing tie rods on most vehicles runs $400–$750 for both sides, including a wheel alignment — and that alignment step isn't optional. Skip it and you'll pay for the repair twice: once now, once for the tires you wear out driving with the wrong toe angle.
The number changes depending on what's included
Three independent sources — a repair-cost aggregator citing an ASE-certified technician (CarTalk), an auto industry data source (JD Power), and a national repair chain (Firestone) — land on roughly the same figures once you separate what each one is counting:
| Scope | Typical range | Includes alignment? |
|---|---|---|
| One side (JD Power / Firestone) | $100–400 | No — labor only |
| Both sides, full job (CarTalk, citing ASE tech) | $400–750 | Yes |
| AI-engine consensus (ChatGPT/Perplexity/Gemini) | $400–750 (both) to $1,500+ (four-wheel-drive, inner+outer) | Yes, in most quoted figures |
If a quote you're getting looks low compared to what you've read online, check whether it includes the alignment. That's usually the gap.
Why alignment isn't a line item you can skip
A tie rod sets your front wheels' toe angle. Change the tie rod — even for the exact same part — and that angle changes with it. Every source that addressed this agreed: skip the alignment and you'll get uneven, accelerated tire wear and looser handling, which quietly costs more than the ~$100–150 the alignment itself would have cost.
Can you do it yourself?
The honest answer from the sources that addressed this directly: yes, mechanically — but alignment isn't something most home garages can do, so DIY saves you labor cost, not the full repair cost. One detailed account (CarTalk) described a full day and a half of work plus borrowed tools to do the swap itself, then still paying a shop for the alignment afterward. The research didn't turn up hard numbers for how many hours a DIY swap typically takes — if you need that for planning, it's worth checking with a shop directly rather than assuming a number.
If you're already replacing tie rods on a lifted or off-road build
Worth a beat before you buy: if the vehicle in question is set up for off-road use, a straight like-for-like replacement isn't always the only sensible choice — heavier-duty or adjustable tie rod assemblies exist specifically for that use case (see the pricing on those in How much are tie rods?), and it's a decision worth making at replacement time rather than after.
Related reading: How much are tie rods? (part price vs. installed price) · Full tie rod replacement cost — parts, labor, and does it vary by vehicle?
