So I just bought my 02 Ex Limited 7.3 4x2 a couple weeks ago and decided to bring it to the dealer to fix a clanking sound whenever I go over a bump. I think its a swaybar bushing which I saw was loose. The dealer tells me that I need both tie rods, all four ball joints and everything in between (bar that links the two sides) replaced!

There is some play in the ball joints, but ever so little and it required a prybar under the tire to get it to move, how can you tell they need to be replaced? Also, do you have to replace all the bars, or can you just rebuild them? I was just crushed when the dealer told me $1700 to do the repair.

I've read that some people recommend using aftermarket parts instead of repairing with OEM parts, if that is the case, which brand and who has the best prices on them? Any recommendations on honest shops in the San Antonio, TX area that does this type of work? Would it be cheaper to order the parts over the internet and have a local shop do the labor?

Thanks for any advise you can lend.

 

I would NOT use OEM parts, but quality aftermarket stuff like say MOOG, that has zerks in them already, so you can grease them.

And unless the parts were ebnt somehow, like say a bad crash, I cannot see why new ends like balljoints, tie rod ends etc. is not fine.

Heck its not even old at just 7 years old.

Be sure to get an alignment done after the job.

 

I don't know which dealer you went to but if it was a certain one on the northeast side, they typically charge more than anyone else. Grande ford on the southeast side generally has better prices. However, Southwest Brake and Alignment on 35 south always treated me fairly and fixed the truck right. I would take it to them before any of the San Antonio dealerships.

 

My advice? Go get a second opinion.

My thinking is that the wheel bearing is loose. You can easily remedy that by pulling off the lug nut cover and popping off the bearing cover. You'll need a 24mm (??) socket (sorry I cannot really remember what size it is right now) to tighten it. There's a pin you have to remove first.

While you're there actually you should really pull the wheel off and remove that bearing and grease it up. Us 2WDers have serviceable bearings up front unlike the 4WD trucks.

You can inspect all your steering linkage by yourself. Look for tears or rips in the boots and make sure there is no lateral movement. They should work smoothly when twisting but not up and down or side to side.

Ball joints should have good boots as well. I've found that the 2wd ball joints seem to hold up better than the 4wd trucks. (Different stresses, loads and spring rates I presume.) Once you've removed the front wheel to service the front wheel bearing you can then check for play in the ball joint.

Get that sway bar bushing fixed. I think you can get Daystar Urethane bushings at most reputable auto parts stores.

BTW, how many miles do you have on your truck?

 

You can acutally do it yourself and save the money, besides the alignment you'll need. The only reason I had someone replace my tie rods was because I didn't have time. Other than that, I have time now and will definately be replacing my ball joints and whatever else myself. There are a couple crooked shops in my area that'll pad your bill like no other. I'll do it myself and have someone else do the alignment unless I figure out how to do it myself.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm getting a second opinion this morning. The more I talked about it with a friend of mine, the more I think the dealer is just a crook. While I think the tie rod does need to be replaced, the service advisor was using scare tactics to try to get me to get the work done right away by saying the tie rod could "just fall out at any moment." There was vertical play in them, but he showed me when it was lifted and the suspension was unloaded, not sure if there should be any play regardless if loaded or unloaded.

After looking at it, I fail to see how it could fall out when secured by a pinned castle nut... I wouldn't mind replacing it myself if there were a walk-thru somewhere that I could follow. BTW, what does everyone think of AC Delco parts? The shop I'm getting a second opinion from uses them and says the ball joints are greaseable unlike the Ford ones.

Oh, my Ex has 194k miles.

 

Most of the dealers in my area are career crooks, there are very few honest service writers out there. In the 7 going on 8 years that I've owned my truck, I can count on one hand the amount of honest service writers I've dealt with. Knowing what I know from years on FTE, you'll be shocked at what some service writers are telling the unsuspecting customer.

Believe it or not, your service writers scare tactic is actually true. Back in October of '08 my right tie rod fell off the ball part. The pin-secured castle nut was still intact along with the bolt part, but the tie rod fell off, I have the pic somewhere. It had been like that for sometime but, I hit a pot hole at 50mph and that's what did it.

As for a write up, I'm sure one exists but it's really self explanatory. I looked at my front end after I had the work done and after a few minutes, I knew I could've done it myself. Bear in mind, I'm one of those people that can figure something out in a matter of minutes and then with careful planning, take it apart and put it back together. Spend some time below your truck's front end and see if you can't manage it yourself. Worse case, a shop may have to make some minor adjustments before they do the alignment.

As far as parts: Moog, Moog, and nothing but Moog. It's quality stuff with a great warranty behind it.

 

AC Delco parts on a Ford?? That's like painting a Ferrari with a paintbrush.

Leave the AC Delco parts for the Chevys...

MOOG is a great way to go for aftermarket parts.

 

I was the first person to respond to this thread, and in that post recommended Moog parts.
I hold by that, and still say to use them.

Find a reputable shop, not your dealer from the sound of it.

Or do it yourself some weekend, which in my opinion is the best route to take.
It saves you money, and you learn a lot about your truck.
Also know that the parts are changed right, and are of good quality.
Once done grease them every oil change, and they will last a long time.
You can get the alignment close by measure the toe with a tape measure, and that will be good enough for you to drive it to an alignement shop once done.
Unless your alignment shops are all a long ways away.
I did my buddies truck for him last year, and just using a tape had it rel close.
And then he drove the 10 miles or so to get it aligned right at a tire shop that does 4 wheel alignments.

 

Well my second opinion told me that the outer tie rod on the driver side wheel needs to be replaced as well as the draw bar. They said the ball joints had a little bit of movement in them but nowhere near the point where they would be considered dangerous. They said technically the ball joints could be replaced since they have a little play in them, but commented that you could check most trucks off the road and get a similar amount of play from them too. They said if it were their vehicle they would just do the tie rod/drawbar and alignment and call it done. They also said the wheel bearings were in good shape.

They won't use owner provided parts, but I think I'll ask them if they can get the Moog parts instead of the AC Delco. I looked at the suspension and it looked like it shouldn't be that hard to take apart but I'm not sure if the front suspension is where I want to have a learning experience on a vehicle that I'll be hauling my family in... I'm leaning to having the shop do the work and just watching how they do it for next time, they are pretty cool and seem like they wouldn't mind at all.

Toreador_Diesel, the second shop agreed with the assessment that it could fall out soon and advised I drive it no faster than 45mph on the way home, to avoid large bumps and not put my family in it or drive it unless absolutely necessary until it is fixed. Did you lose control when you lost your tie rod?

I'm never going back to that Ford dealership again... When are people going to realize that if you treat customers reasonably you'll get repeat business, but if you try to screw them you'll never see them again...

 

Ford will never learn there business plan is scare as much money outta new unsuspecting customers as we can and make more than on honest repeat business. I worked in a Ford dealer for a year and couldnt stand some of the tactics or repairs we would use/do. Hope your repairs are done fast and not to expensive.

 

Glad you got a second opinion.....This shop sounds like they are trying to actual earn a customer, not just screw them over.