I am replacing my outer tie rod ends and the rack ends on my 1997 1.6 EL this weekend however, my order from the dealership was messed up and there is a large chance that i will not be able to get the cotter pins until monday.
Is it such a terrible thing to use the old cotter pins for a day or two or is there a major chance that my car will explode?

Moreover, if new cotter pins are 100% nessesary, is it possible to find them at a hardware store instead of getting them from the dealership, or are the dealership issued cotter pins the only ones that will fit properly?

 

yeah you get them at a local hardware store. I don't know what kind of stores are around you but I know Lowes have them. Bring one your old ones to compare sizes so you get them around the same size.


Modified by UNCW08 at 7:00 PM 10/19/2006

 

they are like 20 or 30 cents are the hardware store.

 

you can buy a 150 set for 3bucks with 4 diffrent sizes

 

Advanced Auto Parts has them. Bring your old one and compare the sizes. They come in packs so you'll have like 500 xtra.

 

i try not to have to reuse my cotter pins, but more often than not i do reuse them. its not that big of a deal. unless theyre completely mangled. and it does take longer to extract them if you dont just snip them off with dikes. its definately not a show stopper tho.

just make sure you have SOMETHING in there. dont think you can get away without one, even for a few miles.