Old "ABE" let me down
I guess the time of dependability is over. I used to drive my Lincoln anywhere, any distance without fear. It's properly maintained.. oiled, lubricated etc.. even has relatively low miles for a 21 year old car.. 90,450ish.
Met my brother for lunch yesterday then after he went shopping and I was off to a friends house who's having a garage sale this weekend. I was bringing a few items over for him to sell at the event. Driving up an overpass that spans the beltline (about 8 train tracks side by each) all of a sudden I felt the front end doing the Watusi. Shack shinny holy shit, I come to a stop at the very top. Put on the flasher.. two lanes in each direction and I'm blocking the right lane eastbound.. major traffic and everyone has to merge to get around mu car. I check the ties and everything looks fine so I get back in and drive real slow down the overpass to a Kmart a block away and pull in the lot.
I get out again and now it's starting to drizzle. I get on the ground and look under the front of the car and behold.. the left tie rod is laying on the ground instead of being connected to the center link. Dayum.
$65 tow
$75 tie rod ( must be made of gold cuz I seen em online for $25)
$80 labor
$220 total and a lack of peace of mind. Bill at Autorite claims the whole front end is shot, upper / lower ball joints, a arms etc.. over $1000 to replace it all... told him to go F himself, rat bastard crook..
Met my brother for lunch yesterday then after he went shopping and I was off to a friends house who's having a garage sale this weekend. I was bringing a few items over for him to sell at the event. Driving up an overpass that spans the beltline (about 8 train tracks side by each) all of a sudden I felt the front end doing the Watusi. Shack shinny holy shit, I come to a stop at the very top. Put on the flasher.. two lanes in each direction and I'm blocking the right lane eastbound.. major traffic and everyone has to merge to get around mu car. I check the ties and everything looks fine so I get back in and drive real slow down the overpass to a Kmart a block away and pull in the lot.
I get out again and now it's starting to drizzle. I get on the ground and look under the front of the car and behold.. the left tie rod is laying on the ground instead of being connected to the center link. Dayum.
$65 tow
$75 tie rod ( must be made of gold cuz I seen em online for $25)
$80 labor
$220 total and a lack of peace of mind. Bill at Autorite claims the whole front end is shot, upper / lower ball joints, a arms etc.. over $1000 to replace it all... told him to go F himself, rat bastard crook..
Comments
I still do the easier jobs on my cars. When it gets more involved, I drive it to my neighbor and barter for tractor time. I'm sorry that these things happen. But, the dealer or Autorite does charge way more than necessary.
BTW, have any of the front end parts mentioned ever been replaced or is this the first time?