alignment and tie rod issues

[quick91]

So I go to get one of my sho's aligned the other day and the guy says you need inner tie rods....
It got me thinking, exactly how DO you check for inner tie rod wear?
Is Leroy just trying to make some extra money?
A friend took a sho their and they gave him the same song and dance...What's the deal?

 

[RStalveyARFF]

jack the front of the car up so both wheels are off the ground. Hold the wheel at 9 and 3, and shimmy it very quickly. Remember, you aren't there to move the wheel, but anything else loose. While doing this, have a helper check under the car for play. If you see the tie rod (the piece that connects the inner tie rod end from the outer tie rod end) moving, then you inner tie rod end is gone. If the tie rod is not moving, have a helper check to see if the outer tie rod end has play. If that does not, then your bearing is gone. To check for a balljoint/bearing, hold the wheel to push at 12, and to pull at 6. Try to induce movement. If there is movement and you can do this all the way around the wheel, ie: 11 and 5, 10 and 4, etc etc, it's your bearing. If only at 12 and 6, it's the balljoint.