I posted last week about the disappointment of having a ball joint needing replacement at 37,500 miles which was discovered by a tire dealer when attempting an alignment. Well, I guess it pays to look at ALL the options. I simply did not feel that a ball joint should fail after 37,500 miles, so yesterday I drove into the local Ford dealership where I purchased the truck 4-1/2 years ago. They wanted $85 to diagnose the problem. Decided NOT to leave the truck, went to work and called Ford Customer Service and logged the issue with them. He suggested I call the dealer and talk to the service department. The service manager there said he understood the truck had relatively low mileage, and that even if I had purchased an extended service plan (I had not) I would have to pay a deductible, so, if there was only one ball joint that needed replacing, he would take care of it for me for $50. I was surprised, but took the truck there this morning. They also gave me a courtesy car to drive to work at no charge! I just received the call that they have discovered there are actually three ball joints that need replacing, so I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. When the service advisor told me they would replace all three AND align the vehicle for $150, you could hear the thud across the room when my jaw hit the floor. This is $75 less than Belle Tire wanted to replace ONE ball joint and do the alignment. Who ever heard of a dealership bending over backward this far, and all I had to do was ask?? I know the dealership is under new ownership in the last year, could they really be doing this simply for good will and trying to keep my business? Or is Ford just going all out to keep customers currently driving their products happy? Either way, you can bet when I am ready to buy a new truck I will be at their door….

Thanks again to everyone who posted suggestions on repairs. Guess I WON'T be crawling under my truck this weekend...

 

I think while they have it apart, they should replace the fourth one as well. I would pay extra for it and be done with it. At least for another 37,000 miles.