steering box

[bigkahun74]

went to the doctor friday morning to have some minor in office surgery on my left arm was only in there for 30 minutes, came back out fired the truck up and had no power steering at all. popped the hood everything looked fine, then i looked in the driverside wheel well and there was power steering fluid pouring out everywhere. muscled it to the stealership since the power steering pump and steering box was replaced 8 months earlier. then i called them on monday to see if it was done, they proceeded to tell me that it needed u-joints, upper and lower ball joints, and hubs. i kinda laughed and told him that everything was replaced by your shop within the last 6 months except the ball joints. they where going to just replace the ball joints without asking me (not warranty work) and then charge me $853.97 for replacing them. i told them i'm leaving with my truck and that they will never received my busness again. the service manager then said if i don't let him replace the ball joints that the warranty on the steering box will be void.. i said your going to void a steering box warranty over ball joints that are just starting to go bad. he said yes because they are the reason the steering box broke.

i don't know about you guys but i've never heard of any truck losing a steering box because of ball joints... i can get new greasable ball joints with a lifetime warranty from advanced auto for $250..

 

[Zookie400]

man i love doing all my own work. request that they replace the worn parts under warranty because they were just replaced, see how quick their tone changes.

 

[BJS]

yes it is theoretically possible for the balljoints to impact the steering box however they have to be toast before there is any real problem.

It is within their rights to determine that the warranty is dependent upon an associated part being within specification. I would request that you witness the technician testing to determine that the balljoints are out of spec, and see the specs in a printed document from Ford. (a common example is a/c compressor your new compressor, or condenser will not be warrantied if you don't replace the dryer at the same time too)

If the warranty is important then either replace them yourself or have a shop replace them and keep the receipt. This will give you documentation to refute the denial of your warranty claim.