Finally hit 30K on the clock....Took in for 30K service this morning....

[gossame1]

Hello Gang,

Well, I finally made it to 30K on the clock. (30,600 to be exact) Took the 300 in for the 30K checkup. While up on the lift, the technician noticed that the passenger side inner tie rod was bent slightly. (About a month ago, I rolled over one of the ornamental rocks at the edge of the driveway) I didn't see any noticeable visible damage from what I could tell.

I made the appointment for last week, but due to a scheduling issue, I had to reschedule the appointment for this morning.

The dealer quoted me about $450 to replace the tie rod and realign the front end. I'm going to take it back in to have this done in the next few weeks. The parts are on a 2 week backorder according to the dealership. I took it to another dealership to get a second opinion, and they quoted me the same price. (So, I know the dealers are pretty honest!) I'll post more about this when I finally take it in to have the tie rod replaced.

BTC
(The top picture is the bad side, and the bottom is the good side-The hand in the pics belongs to the technician, the photos were shot by the service advisor)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/gossame1/BadSidePassengerSideTieRod.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/gossame1/GoodsideDriversSide.jpg

[Turbobuckeye]

Are they charging you becuase you rolled over something? I had a broken one when I went for my 30k service and it was replaced under warranty. If you are not over 36k you are also still under warranty. But there is the issue that you admitted rolling over something, and there are the scrape marks on the rod.

[rfgervasi]

Are they charging you becuase you rolled over something? I had a broken one when I went for my 30k service and it was replaced under warranty. If you are not over 36k you are also still under warranty. But there is the issue that you admitted rolling over something, and there are the scrape marks on the rod.

I agree. Unless they can prove you did it they should cover it under warranty or try getting a used rack and having a local shop install for less money.

[leodogg24]

maybe sand the tierod a little and then use some cheap flat black paint and cover the scrape and then after it`s dry dirty it up a little and take it to another dealer. they`ll never know and probably replace it under your warranty..

[bigkevin20]

do you really need it? If its not under warranty I would wait. I mean you didnt notice any problems till they told you rite. You may be able to just get away with an aliment.

[Super T]

do you really need it? If its not under warranty I would wait. I mean you didnt notice any problems till they told you rite. You may be able to just get away with an aliment.

That's possible, but I wouldn't chance it. The tie rod is meant to withstand force in a straight line, between the outer rod end where it attaches to the spindle and the rack itself. Well now that it's bent, all the forces that it used to withstand along its axis are now working to bend it even more. Push on the ends of a paper towel tube (empty). Push straight in, don't grab hold of the ends w/ your fists. Nothing happens, right? Now bend it in half and then straighten it out the best you can... push straight in on the ends again. It buckles a lot sooner... same principle! Plus, all metals are subject to fatigue, though steel isn't as bad as others. You know how when you flop the tab on a pop can back and forth about 30 times it finally just falls off in your fingers? You've already bent your tie rod once now...

If it breaks, you're left with one wheel flapping in the breeze and essentially a total loss of control over your car. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't like to hit a pothole at 50 and have that thing let go!

[OregonR/T]

So what does it run for the 30K service and what do they do? I am about 2,500 miles from 30k so we are getting close to needing this done.

[Turbobuckeye]

So what does it run for the 30K service and what do they do? I am about 2,500 miles from 30k so we are getting close to needing this done.

Its a little over $600 if you go thru the dealership. Some folks have done an ala carte on the 30K package and did the other items themselves in order to save money.

Lot of info here:
http://www.lxforums.com/board/showthread.php?t=84389&highlight=service