dugan

sent the mustang to the shop to have some steering work done.
turns out the Center link is broke, it needs a new pitman arm, the ball joints are bad, and they said it needed a new gearbox because it used to have Power steering (PO clipped the lines and took the pump off).

I donk know if i trust them though, as they said so far it will be at least 1000 bucks(didnt say if that included labor or not) plus another 200 and some for the ball joints. Said that they were having truobe finding parts for it and they would be expensive.
That being said i looked up a center link for manual steering on Napa and it was 100 and some odd dollars, looked up the pitman arm and it was 193.49 and a 50.00 core charge (they said it would be a 100 dollar core charge)
they are a "napa certified shop" so why would they have not checked with napa for the parsts first?

Would you say they are trying to screw me?

racin66coupe

i would say yes

fast65

they're definitely trying to screw you.

66JameStang

[sm=bustedsign.gif][sm=guilty.gif][sm=WTFsgign.gif] Yes they are IMO and that is a bunch of crap you should ask them for a cost list on the parts or, by the parts and install them yourself. It is not too bad a process at all... my first project was a front end rebuild in cluding steering once you get in there it will be cake.... and you will save a few bucks. IMO

dcohen

you can get every part you need from napa

65Coupester

If the center link is broken and the Pitman arm is 'bad' was it wrecked or hit something.
Pitman is fairly hefty I wonder how often they would go bad.

The gear box can be rebuilt for less than a new one.

baxsom

go to california mustang they have a front end kit that will replace all of that stuff and you can do it yourself.
http://www.cal-mustang.com/STEERING-KITS-C1869.aspx
http://www.cal-mustang.com/PITMAN-ARMS-C920.aspx
http://www.cal-mustang.com/STEERING-...LINK-C908.aspx
http://www.cal-mustang.com/MUSTANG-S...XES-C2195.aspx

thats over 1000 in parts already

Aussie66Fastback

errr, yep...they're getting ready to bend you over and they've already added the sand to the lubricant.

the ends on Pitman arms do wear. they're about a $70 part.
The tie rod ends etc you can get in a kit for about $165.
Ball joints are about $20 each x 4.

center link is around $65 from MU or M+

Flaming river and others do rebuilt steering boxes for around $500.

so far around $900 in parts but you can bring this down if you get the rebuild stuff for the steering box.

musnicki

If I need work done that I can't do myself, I always buy or scrounge up my parts then ask a few places around town to get a few quotes. I don't pick the cheapest but I do pick the best work (and trust) for my money.

dcohen

rebuilding a manual steering box isnt as hard as folks make it seem

im only 17 and i didnt have a problem with it