So I had the Toyota dealer install a OEM steering rack as I figured it was better to pay the $200 install price + the alignment they would have to do anyways. Well I get the truck back and there is a connection that is leaking somewhere as I had a small pool of fluid dripping down from the rack. I also noticed that both of my outer tie rod end boots where completely destroyed. I had been under there to do a lower ball joint and I had looked at all of this a few weeks ago and they were all fine. I can't see part number for a boot kit from Toyota on the tie rod ends? I took the car in and am awaiting what the dealer will say but I can see them saying that the car is old so they just tore and it was unavoidable? I think even if they have to put on new tie rod ends then they should pay for all of it as they destroyed my boots that will now cause my ends to wear out quickly? Do you guys think this is fair or should I have to come in with some money as they would be putting on new parts? To be honest I'm a little frustrated as the mechanic would have known for sure that they destroyed the boots but they never said a word to me about it and I guess the average car owner doesn't look underneath their car so in 6 months or so they would have been toast and it wouldn't have been their problem at that time?
tie rod end boots destroyed when steering rack was installed
- Thread starter Shadowbiker
- Start date
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If they didn't recommend replacing the tie rid ends with the rack due to the torn boots, I think it would be fair for them to buy the labor and new alignment and you buy parts.
Did you take it in and just tell them to replace the rack or did they recommend doing it as a result of maintenance inspection?
Did you take it in and just tell them to replace the rack or did they recommend doing it as a result of maintenance inspection?
- Thread starter
- #3
I recently purchased the LC and it wouldn't pass safety due to a few items including the lower ball joints and steering rack. They even did a pre purchase inspection where all the items were discovered before purchase and never were boots a ? and I know for a fact they were fine as I did one of the lower ball joints prior to taking it in for the steering rack and had inspected them for wear. I will see what they say as the tie rod ends weren't new but they weren't bad either there was no movement in them. I just don't like that they put the rack in and then the torn boots and didn't say a word about them as I'm sure the mechanic used a pickle fork or something to get them off and then didn't want to get in trouble or deal with having to order parts? He also filled the power steering reservoir almost an inch above the max line so that doesn't bod well for him being detail orientated as it leaked all over the PS on hills.
That's a bummer. That kind of stuff shouldn't happen at a dealer, but it does. You do have a bit going for you. 1) if they were torn before they did the rack, they should have told you, and 2) if they tore as a result of R&R they should have told you. Paying to get them replaced now is really double dipping since it will also need a new alignment. If it's a decent dealer they should do the right thing and help out, if not you can always take it to the manager, director, GM, BBB, etc.
Unless they are destroyed in a botched removal like yours, those normally last a long time. I think you should not have to pay for new ones and that the dealer needs to recognize they have a lousy mechanic in their shop and fix these for you (with a different mechanic doing the work for the new ends and the new leak). If the dealer doesn't do the right thing, get Toyota corporate involved. Steering is not something Toyota wants to have screwed up by incompetent dealer service departments.
- Thread starter
- #6
OK so the dealer called me and they were willing to have me buy the parts and they would install and do the alignment again for free. I called the service manager to not only personally let him know the job that was done was not acceptable but also to discuss options. After a long conversation we decided that I would purchase one of the tie rod ends and he would purchase the other one and they would install them for free as well as redo the alignment at no cost. According to the mechanic they were torn when it came in and it didn't get written down (of course he would say that). I know for a fact they weren't torn as i saw them with my own eyes the night before as I had done a hub rebuild and they were fine. I also told him that I didn't want the same mechanic working on the truck as before as I don't trust them to do a good enough job due to the previous experience. He was fine with that and they are going to get the parts ordered and installed. I feel that even though the parts were damaged by them I will get new parts and only have to pay for 1/2 the cost of the part and free install. I have no history of how old the tie rod ends were but they could have had 100K on them or more so I feel this is a fair compromise. The one problem taking the LC to the dealer is that you never know how good the mechanic is where and indy shop you may trust the mechanics more once you get to know them.
They used a pickle fork to separate the tie rod ends which always destroys the boots. They should have just installed new boots and billed parts and labor for them. That they didn't is sloppy, but not exactly a bad R&R procedure.
TG you had just looked at them the night before taking it in. Anyone else would have gotten screwed in this situation. Count your blessings... I feel 75% of the time any of my Toyotas have gone to the dealer, something comes back worse than when it went in.