So I was driving to work a couple of nights ago. My dak made it along just fine until I went to park. I pulled into a parking space slightly crooked so I tried to back it out to correct myself. Truck acted like it didn't want to move, almost like it was in neutral but it wasn't. Finally I got it to go in reverse and got it straightened out. Worked all night then I came out in the morning to go home and my truck acts like it didn't want to back out again. Finally it gives and lets me back out.

I get barely out of my parking space and up to about 20mph and it was bouncing me around inside like a rag doll. I am sitting here thinking what the hell. I immediately thought that I might have a flat or something or a broken shock so I get out and take a look at it. Everything looks to be ok so I get back in it and manage to get to the highway. Like clockwork at 25mph it start bouncing me around so bad it's unbearable.

My drive home now is only about 5-10 minutes. It took me like 40 minutes to get it home limping at 20mph. I get it in my driveway which has a slight ramp at the beginning of it and I hear a noise like something snapped or broke like a clunk. I get out and look at it and the tie rod is sitting broken off against the backside of my rim.

She's in the shop today. Luckily enough one of my coworkers has a 08 2500 Ram with a car trailer so I managed to avoid towing fees and I am looking at about $300 worth of work. Hopefully all goes well.

My truck has about 74,000 miles on it. The tie rods are the original ones that are on the truck so if any of you guys are still running stock I might recommend you do a little preventative maintenance.

 

good to know! i'm glad was nothing mayor. you were lucky it did not broke doing 60 mph on the highway !!!

 

yeah both of mine were replaced at 45K when it was inspected they were both broken or about to...so yeah

 

Well I thought it was going to be a simple replacement. I just got a call back from the NAPA Service Center my truck is at and I am being told that the inner tie rod which is part of the rack and pinion is bent so the rack and pinion will need to be replaced now as well.

The part he wants to use is a remanufactured part listed on the NAPA website for 269.00 with a 72.20 Core charge. This service center is trying to charge me $500 just for the part alone. I questioned the guy about it and he got really short with me and told me that when you buy parts online they are always cheaper and that it's always going to be more expensive in the store or at a service center.

I'm sorry but a 100% markup on the price? That's ridiculous. I fully understand dealerships and shops make their money off of labor and markups on the parts but a 100% markup that's simply unfair. Now I am going from $300 to a total price to fix my truck of $1100. I don't have that kind of money at the moment. What do you guys think I should do?

 

That is bollocks! Call Napa and complain! Tell them Pep Boys does not mark up their parts, why are they? They are trying to work you over BIG TIME.

 

I would get your buddy with their trailer and tow it out of there. Pay them for the work done and go somewhere else to get the rack and pinion replaced. I understand a mark up in prices because thats how a shop makes their money, but Im talking 20% max, not doubling the price. Thats rediculous. I wouldnt trust any shop with my truck that I cant trust with my hard-earned money.

 

Whats this trucks history? On road commuter? Wheeling it on the weekends? Just curious. I have had a whole bunch of issues with my rack and inner tie rods since I have owned this truck.

I heard that the rack and pinion setup, and the tie rods are very weak and underpowered on this pickup. I hear the new Dodge mini-vans have a stronger setup then we do.

I did not stop having problems with my front end (replaced 3 racks over 35k miles) until I ditched the big tires and the leveling kit. Since then everything has been completely reliable.

But you are completely stock right? It seems like a joke to have that happen at 74k, to me.

 

It's been a commuter. Bought it new in February 2007 with no miles on it. 95% of the miles on it are highway/interstate miles. It hasn't seen barely anything in the city. So far I have had to replace the FCM (Front Control Module) and the front brake rotors and pads. Oil changes are done fairly often on it. The longest I have gone between changes is about 10k miles but you can get away with that when you drive nothing but highway.

I have had at least a 30 mile commute to and from work since I have owned it up and until about July 15th when I moved into the same town as where I work so now my commute is probably like 10 miles or so.

I reported this to my insurance agency. I did tag a pothole a couple of months ago when I as out of town and the mechanic did say it looked like maybe I hit a big pothole or something of the like. My adjuster took my story and has since called the mechanic for an invoice and more detailed information from him it will be interesting to see what happens now. I also called NAPA's corporate headquarters and inquired about the price of the part on their website and the amount of markup I am being charged for it. A Des Moines NAPA office got a hold of me and took all my information and are calling this mechanic to see why he has the part priced so high. They told me they thought it was too high also.

All in all my life pretty much sucks right now. I have nothing to drive and I have to go back for my work week here on Saturday at 11:30pm. My insurance called enterprise to get me a car and while I was walking there Enterprise calls me and tells me they are out of cars until Tuesday. Hopefully this week gets better before it gets worse.

 

can you say www.bbb.com ?

 

I have no problem using the better business bureau. I used them against Chrysler when my FCM went out and Chrysler ended up sending me a check for the part.

I'll see how NAPA Corporate handles it and my insurance before I push the issue.