Hey guys...

I've been doing some digging on here [maybe I'm not using the right search terms] but I haven't found any relevant postings to my question. :)

I just moved into VA and took my '68 122 in for a safety inspection. Everything passed except for the tie rod assembly having too much play in it, and it was suggested that the front bushings be redone. The mechanic showed me what was going on while the front was up on jacks, and sure enough the tie rod ends were wobbly, and to a lesser extent so were the front bushings. Ugh!

My question is how difficult of a task would it be to replace the tie rod ends and the steering arms myself? The assembly looks to be straight-forward enough both on the car and in the diagrams in my mechanic's manual, but I also know that any mistakes in putting the steering back together could result in me losing my front wheels on the Capital Beltway...something I could just as easily accomplish by leaving it as-is, hehe. Would this be something that is best left to someone who is more experienced?

I did take a peek at the VClassics article regarding redoing the front bushings, but unfortunately I don't think I have enough tools at my disposal [namely the hydraulic press] to get quite so involved.

At any rate, any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!

As a side note, I could get the car tagged as an antique in which case no inspection is required at all, so passing it would be a non-issue. This is a safety thing, though, so it's best I get it fixed either way. My hope was to pass the safety inspection so I could drive it more than just on weekends and holidays. :)