The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Tie rod end replacement. What am I getting myself into?

I had had the ends basting in PB Blaster for about two weeks took a few good whacks and out they popped. Unscrewing them from the bar on the other hand took a while. Imagine my surprise when neither of them had locking cotter pin. Another question, what direction should the bow in the bar face? Forward, Back, up or down.

Thanks