More trouble in the shop

[Croneybones]

So they give me a quote for inspection, needing only a ball joint and the little light for the license plate. When they go to do the work, I get a call saying they need to replace the seal on the rear axle, as it's leaking fluid all over the brake. Okay, an extra hundred or so. Then I get another call saying that they broke some pin in the back and have to order a new one from Ford. Now I won't get my truck from the shop until Tuesday at the earliest.

GRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Sorry, just had to vent a bit. Anyone else have similar issues with their Bronco?

 

[miesk5]

yo!

One ball joint?

Also, will they do an alignment after? How is the tire wear?

It happens, start reading DIY articles here to save some $ on repairs that you can do at home; ball joints are tuff for some; but in time. you can do it.

At Auto Zone (don't like the quality of some of their mech./electr parts tho) and other places, you can rent or borrow w/refundable deposit some tools to DIY.

GL!

 

[shift1313]

were you having any trouble with your back brakes locking up? when fluid leaks from your axle it will cause your pads to swell.

Sounds crappy man. axle seals arent fun if you arent already in the diff. Im assuming you have an 8.8 rear end. they will need to pull the cover(replace the fluid) and pull the spring clip and axle clips off, pull the axles out to do the seals. What did they quote you for that? also one ball joint seems a bit odd. when one goes the other usually gets some weird forces and kills it quick. Im going to guess you will get a call saying they ruined your other ball joint getting the first one off and they need to replace it as well

 

[ms_jetset]

So they give me a quote for inspection, needing only a ball joint and the little light for the license plate. When they go to do the work, I get a call saying they need to replace the seal on the rear axle, as it's leaking fluid all over the brake. Okay, an extra hundred or so. Then I get another call saying that they broke some pin in the back and have to order a new one from Ford. Now I won't get my truck from the shop until Tuesday at the earliest.
GRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Sorry, just had to vent a bit. Anyone else have similar issues with their Bronco?

Your preaching to the choir bro. My babys been in the shop every weekend for the last 4 months or so, and there's always "something else" it needs!

 

[Croneybones]

One ball joint?Also, will they do an alignment after? How is the tire wear?

It's just the one joint, cost me total 400 (part and labor)

They will include an alignment. I just put new tires on it and drove maybe 30 miles on them before putting it in the shop. The old front tires were both shot. They had studs in them, but they were so worn down, the studs fell off.

The spring clip is what they broke and have to get from Ford.

If something else "pops up" I'm pulling it and taking it to a mechanic friend I know.

I just bought the rig, so I wanted to take it to a place I know is strict on state inspection. That way I know just what's wrong with it and how safe it is. I don't know them well though, and with stuff just coming up, it makes them seem kind of fishy.

 

[Broncobill78]

yo!One ball joint?

Also, will they do an alignment after? How is the tire wear?

It happens, start reading DIY articles here to save some $ on repairs that you can do at home; ball joints are tuff for some; but in time. you can do it.

At Auto Zone (don't like the quality of some of their mech./electr parts tho) and other places, you can rent or borrow w/refundable deposit some tools to DIY.

GL!

I gotta agree with Miesk. The cost of a set of ball-joint tools is maybe $75 (I got the Standard AND Master kits on sale together for $49 and they've worked fine. I've done 4 sets now) and once you buy them you have them forever. As long as you own a reasonable set of hand tools you'll spend *maybe* $75-$100 on the specialty tooling you need for ball-joints.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Disp...temnumber=38335

While I'm the first to admit that cheap tooling isn't always the best, if it's something that gets used maybe 3 or 4 times a year then sure, cheap is good enuf. Sure, I buy Snap-On wrenches but I don't buy bearing-separators and other limited-use tooling from them. Sometimes good-enuf is good-enuf, I don't feel that *every* tool in my chest has to be top-notch. I'm not so proud that I won't but Chinese tools /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" /> Well, some at least.

Generally speaking, the *first* time around you'll probably spend as much to buy the tooling and parts as you will to have the job done at a shop. BUT, after that you own the tools and you know how to do thee work so the only thing you're left paying for is the parts, and if you don't mind doing your own work AND have the tools at hand it's not such a big issue to buy the cheaper parts that need to be replaced every 3 years instead of every 5.

It should be a given that an alignment follows a ball-joint replacement (at least with any *reputable* shop) and as long as it's aligned afterwards there should be no tire wear issues (of course that assumes that you rotate the damn things)

Now certainly this is just my opinion and by now we ALL know that opinions are just like asses, some are nicer than others and I have no illusions as to where MINE stands in the rankings. Take it for what it's worth (the opinion, not the ass)

 

[miesk5]

Let me agree w/Bill, my turn!..lol... he can run your step-by=step on the process.

$400. for just the ball jt & alignmt..? if so,... get out of that shop now! never go back. & tell your family & friends to stay away from 'em too.

Run any probs you have in future here before taking it anywhere or buying parts.

Ask your mech. pal about the condition of the other ball joints, tie rod ends, radius arm bushings, etc., etc. See what he thinks about them and then decide to DIY or have him help you diy.

 

[Croneybones]

Let me agree w/Bill, my turn!..lol... he can run your step-by=step on the process.
$400. for just the ball jt & alignmt..? if so,... get out of that shop now! never go back. & tell your family & friends to stay away from 'em too.

Run any probs you have in future here before taking it anywhere or buying parts.

Ask your mech. pal about the condition of the other ball joints, tie rod ends, radius arm bushings, etc., etc. See what he thinks about them and then decide to DIY or have him help you diy.

LOL! It came to 420-ish for the ball joint, labor, state inspection, alignment, and the little license plate light.

I followed the link to that ball joint tool, and I feel like a tool. I found one of those in my house when I bought it, I thought it was a c-clamp, or a broken pipe cutter it was a Craftsman. Either way, I tossed it because it looked broken. How's that for ignorance!