Well it's a long story and I'm not sure what to cut out. Sometime in January I developed some creaks in the front of the car. I'd hear a small creak or rattle when shifting into 2nd and 3rd. I didn't feel anything through the clutch or shifter so I never thought it was a clutch or gearbox issue. I checked my 2-pt brace and all upgraded mounts, everything was tight and no worn out bushings. Steering may have become a bit vague at highway speeds, but it was hard to tell because I had just put on tall winter tires at the same time.
A few weeks later I noticed a clunk in the front left suspension when turning into my driveway - right turn, up a ramp, while braking for the gate card reader, driver side suspension loaded. Driveway usually has some dirt or gravel at that spot. Through the wheel it felt like the LF wheel was skipping. I mistook that sensation for ABS activation. This left wheel "skipping" and clunking led me to the local dealership for the first time.
First time at the dealership they had the car for 5 hours only to tell me that it was my fender liners rubbing the tire, which I knew was wrong. This was after the service advisor drove the car around and felt and heard the clunk in the LF wheel area on low speed bumps. Sure... Got the car home and decided to see if the wheel would move while parked. Sure enough there was 1/2" of play. I went back and showed them with my own hands. They then agreed that the car should go on an alignment rack to check the alignment and tie rods, but I had to make an apointment for next week to do so.
A week later I get the car back in for alignment. They say my specs are off and order new tie rods both sides to be replaced under warranty. Tie rods were back ordered and this was right when everything was slowing down due to COVID-19. 3 weeks later the parts came in. Two days after dropping the car off, they call to say they don't have the tie rod end tool for the ST and need to call around to other area shops to find one, or order it which will take more time. 3 days after that they say they have the tool. 2 days after that the car is ready.
SA warns me when handing over keys that there is still a rattle, which he now wants to blame on my motor mounts. Well the car is now worse than before. Driving in a circle the steering weight seems to load/unload and doesn't hold the turn consistently. Rattle when taking off in 1st, 2nd, 3rd. I went straight back after test drive. Now the SA says he thinks my steering gear is damaged and slipping. Says it would not be covered under warranty because I have some curbing on my passenger side wheels and an impact, not a factory defective part, is the cause.
At this point I'm pretty frustrated at their willingness to give me back a messed up car that hasn't been 100% fixed, twice. Nonetheless I asked for a quote to replace the steering rack. They quoted me $1,380 less a $225 core charge on the part, so $1,155.
1. Do you think I should keep working with this dealership, or try to find a different garage to do the repair? They're the only Ford dealership in town.
2. Do the symptoms sound like it would be a bad steering gear and pinion? Is there a way to confirm the diagnosis?
3. Would you take this kind of repair to an outside garage? The dealership is quoting 4.5 hours at $199/hr and $351 for the part. Going rate for independent garages here is $120/hr and the part is listed on Tasca for $250, so maybe I'd save $200 or so, assuming they use the book hours.
Any advice is appreciated. I want to get this done so I can enjoy my car again. Right now it's a rattle trap that I'm not proud of and I'm afraid to drive hard.
A few weeks later I noticed a clunk in the front left suspension when turning into my driveway - right turn, up a ramp, while braking for the gate card reader, driver side suspension loaded. Driveway usually has some dirt or gravel at that spot. Through the wheel it felt like the LF wheel was skipping. I mistook that sensation for ABS activation. This left wheel "skipping" and clunking led me to the local dealership for the first time.
First time at the dealership they had the car for 5 hours only to tell me that it was my fender liners rubbing the tire, which I knew was wrong. This was after the service advisor drove the car around and felt and heard the clunk in the LF wheel area on low speed bumps. Sure... Got the car home and decided to see if the wheel would move while parked. Sure enough there was 1/2" of play. I went back and showed them with my own hands. They then agreed that the car should go on an alignment rack to check the alignment and tie rods, but I had to make an apointment for next week to do so.
A week later I get the car back in for alignment. They say my specs are off and order new tie rods both sides to be replaced under warranty. Tie rods were back ordered and this was right when everything was slowing down due to COVID-19. 3 weeks later the parts came in. Two days after dropping the car off, they call to say they don't have the tie rod end tool for the ST and need to call around to other area shops to find one, or order it which will take more time. 3 days after that they say they have the tool. 2 days after that the car is ready.
SA warns me when handing over keys that there is still a rattle, which he now wants to blame on my motor mounts. Well the car is now worse than before. Driving in a circle the steering weight seems to load/unload and doesn't hold the turn consistently. Rattle when taking off in 1st, 2nd, 3rd. I went straight back after test drive. Now the SA says he thinks my steering gear is damaged and slipping. Says it would not be covered under warranty because I have some curbing on my passenger side wheels and an impact, not a factory defective part, is the cause.
At this point I'm pretty frustrated at their willingness to give me back a messed up car that hasn't been 100% fixed, twice. Nonetheless I asked for a quote to replace the steering rack. They quoted me $1,380 less a $225 core charge on the part, so $1,155.
1. Do you think I should keep working with this dealership, or try to find a different garage to do the repair? They're the only Ford dealership in town.
2. Do the symptoms sound like it would be a bad steering gear and pinion? Is there a way to confirm the diagnosis?
3. Would you take this kind of repair to an outside garage? The dealership is quoting 4.5 hours at $199/hr and $351 for the part. Going rate for independent garages here is $120/hr and the part is listed on Tasca for $250, so maybe I'd save $200 or so, assuming they use the book hours.
Any advice is appreciated. I want to get this done so I can enjoy my car again. Right now it's a rattle trap that I'm not proud of and I'm afraid to drive hard.
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