Re: Ball joints

"C. E. White" <cewhite3@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:13r40cbah0gs2fb@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> "Foon" <foon@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
> news:fosrj808fm@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Just got off the phone with a local Ford dealer who was doing a cruise
> > control
> > repair on my '03 XLT Explorer (55K gentle miles) He said the mechanic
> > observed
> > lower ball joint wear on both sides and recommended replacement at a
cost
> > of
> > $500+. He said failure to repair would cause uneven tire  wear and
> > eventually
> > might cause axle breakage. He also said I should notice this wear and
a
> > clunking
> > noise when I turn. To date the vehicle as performed very well with no
> > vibration,
> > wobble or uneven wear that I can tell.  Should I take this to another
shop
> > or
> > assume the mechanic is looking out after my safety and ok the repair?
> > Any help is appreciated.
>
> I'd would suggest that you take the vehicle to an independent mechanic
that
> you trust and get a second opinion.
>
> Ed
>
>

I'll second that.  I've had Ford try to sell me all kinds of stuff I
didn't
need.  They even tried to sell me new radiator hoses when the ones on
there
were only two weeks old.  When my auto-hubs failed on my '91 it was going
to
cost about $4500 to get the 4X4 working again.  The car was worth about
$4000 at the time.  I put on manual hubs for under $200.

OTOH I used to take my '78 F350 to a Ford dealer whenever it needed
something and they always seemed to be fair and honest but it was a
different Ford dealer****p.