The better end, AKA The front red arrow thingy

 

Yea ok so you have a worn steering arm end. Get a new one and replace it, count the # of threads it take to remove the end link, (thread it out of the sleeve) and then same count to reinstall. Still can't locate the torque. 440sixpack you got any info in the dept for them?

 

Got the new tie rod end today (or is it a drag link? I've seen both names used (I think) Another Moog. I also picked up a new steering stabilizer while I was there.

Found out the torque specs : 50-60 ft lbs

And you know, the more I think about what the shop did, and didn't do, the more disgusted I get. Seriously, I take the truck in, tell them the steering has 8 inches of play in it and that it's sticking, catching, and randomly getting tight, and that I think it's the steering gearbox. They had my steering gearbox rebuilt and put it in, and didn't check anything else!?!? Why would they take my word for it, I'm a housewife! I would think that part of "hey I've got a steering problem" would entail, I don't know... maybe checking out the rest of the steering components! Sheesh!

And considering the money I spent there, I SHOULD NOT have to inspect everything they worked on to make sure they fixed it.

Okay, I'm gonna stop venting now. Back to work.

 

Vent away.
Take plenty of pictures of the parts before and after they come off. Hopefully you won't need the help of a lawyer to get some of your money back, but if it comes to that, go for it. Your BBB might be of assistance as well.

Good luck and post up details as they become available.

 

Don’t blame you for being aggravated. In Calif. we have the BAR (Bureau of Automotive Repairs) who also handles complaints...sometimes very effectively. Maybe you have something similar in Washington state....

 

Sad but when they see a house wife... they think "she don't know nothing". the fact that you are on this site with all the help they provide.
it is a good thing you gave it a good look over. one of those end links popped off of my old car and it did the most abrupt left turn i ever experienced.
went across oncoming traffic. thank god i didn't hit or kill someone. Glad you got them fixed.

 

Okay, new parts installed! Took it for a spin and it seems good! I'll take it on the highway tomorrow to double check. We also double checked everything again. The only other issue is a slow leaking power steering hose, and I'll replace that soon.

Even if the staeering gearbox is fine, the shop isn't off the hook..... I am going to do a little *** chewing over the brakes. *grumble*

But hey! I'm much happier than I was! *grin*

 

I'm not going to defend your shop because I don't know the details of your conversation with them. but there is one thing to keep in mind, most shops work primarily on newer vehicles and when they come in most often there is a repair, or two needed.

in your case basically you need a restoration, I bet almost every component in your brakes and steering need replaced to get it back to the level a good shop would want from a reliability and liability stand point. so unless you took it in and said replace everything that might need it and i don't care what it costs what you got was pretty much what you're going to get. it's kind of a no win deal for mechanics, the customer is either unhappy with the results or he's unhappy with the price.

 

Vent away, we do not charge for listening. Lol At least you got it fixed and hope that was the issue. I doubt it was just that one worn end causing all that play. Once you get is all lined out and get your a$$ chewing (to feel better) done with that shop, I would find a different shop.

Hit up your local FTE state chapter folks to get some input on what shop to maybe use.

Washington link:https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum188/

 

I totally get what you are saying. I really do. What I don't understand is how a shop can either not see, or not say anything about stuff that obviously needed replacing. Especially after they had found MAJOR stuff going on in the motor (two bent push rods, a stuck valve, and mismatched valves) that I had no idea about, (I told them to check out that head because of the work I had done the year before.... I really wasn't expecting them to find anything, let alone something major, and I had said that when I took it in) and I told them yes, please fix it, and the other head too. I'm not a difficult customer. I'm patient, I know **** happens, and I know mechanics are human.

I also understand that they are in business to make a profit. Another reason why I don't understand this..... they could have made even more money if they'd told me my brakes were shot, and that more work needed to be done to the steering, just like the rods/valves. And I had already paid them $2500 for work on my van. It's not like I argued with them about anything.... I knew there was stuff wrong with both rigs, and when they figured out what it was, I told them to fix it.

And to give them credit due, they never treated me like an stupid woman, (not the desk guy, or the two mechanics) and the motor work they did seems great.

 

Maybe you should take it to your shop, or another shop if you prefer and tell them to give you a quote on everything that needs fixed from bumper to bumper and you want it fixed right. I think you'd be shocked . this is why they don't dig any deeper than they have to.

The other thing is some shops just don't have the skills to diagnose much of anything . they just fix what they're told to fix . if you want brake you go to a brake and alignment shop. if you want a radiator fixed you go to a radiator shop. if you want your transmission fixed you go to a transmission shop.

I'm not saying it's good, but that's just the world we live in today. everything is a specialty. and the guys who want to work on anything that doesn't take metric wrenches are getting few and far between.

 

Like 440 said they fixed what you told them to and then somehow heard or decided to investigate the motor issue. Like any real good quality shop they should of called you and told you what they found and then gave you the option to stop and settle up or decide to continue and do the repair.

Also depends on if you told them to give it a 100% insp or just fix X and X.

He is also right that old school shops with real old school automotive technicians and not just plug it in and see what the computer says to replace folks, are a dying breed. Hang in there and remember to always ask for an estimate, tell them to itemize the receipt and you want the old parts.

 

If a shop does not diagnose much of anything they would not be in business long. As that is basically their whole job, a customer brings car and it is not working properly the shops job is to diagnose what is wrong and replace/repair it. If they can;t do that they won't have their doors open for long.

 

Okay, I just got back from a second test drive, this time on the highway, and the steering is nice and tight again! Replacing that one bad tie rod end definitely did the trick. Perhaps the fact that the truck has a 6 inch lift, and 35" tires excerbated everything... I wouldn't have thought that 1/8 movement in the tie rod end would equal 4-5 inches of play at the steering wheel, but that seems to be the case. The only other thing we did was replace the steering stabilizer.

I'm also glad I didn't disagree with my husband. *grin* He was right! He may not know much about old trucks, but I don't know anyone better for looking at something and being able to figure out how it works.

 

WelI I'll be a blind squirrel does find a nut once in a while. Glad that was all it needed and congrats on being back on the road safer.