New Power steering rack with problems

[AUBURN1111]

Just installed a new power steering rack from Autozone (sport steering) and its only been on 1 week and the car began wondering and drifting while going down the road. Ball joints are new, tie rod ends are new so I jack the car up and pull on the spindle to see the 1/2 of play comming from the inner tie rod ends. You can hear a nice click and watch pop in and out of the rack. Now Im slightly pissed and I know I can get another under warranty but Ill also have to get another alignment -$40 from my pocket. Should autozone cover the cost of me having to get my car realigned, should I even waste my time getting another rack under warranty ?

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

I don't think they should cover the cost of the alignment....I think they should give you another new rack. The inner tie rod has play because something in the rack is not functioning properly. When I installed my new inner tie rods, you couldn't even move them untill I installed them...even they they took force to move they were so tight. The olds ones couldn't even support their own weight even with the outer tie rods off.

 

[ninety15.0]

I think they should pay you for the alignment...but i dont think they will. That sucks man...i hate all those hidden expenses...alignments get expensive.

Im about to do outer tie rods on my car this weekend. Do you guys have any tips on the project. Im just going to measure the distance they are turned in with a caliper and then count the number of turns to get them out. Then just repeat the process to get them back in.

Any other obvious tool problems or suggestions to make this quick and painless. anything else i should change while im in there. Should i just to the ball joints too?! Seems like i should while im in there....i have never changed them. When i check them the other day everything seemed tight (up/down) but the outer tie rods had lots of movement! Thanks in advance.