crazy8ship

I have my car in the shop to have the steering rack replaced since it went out. There was no way I was spending $2200 on a part for a car worth at most $9500. I bought a used one that had a bent tie rod. Lexus is telling me this used steering rack is useless because of the bent inner tie rod. You can not just buy the inner tie rod and have to buy the whole rack. This seems like BS to me. Anyone know if this is true or not?

It's a 2008 IS250 AWD. The sterring rack I bought was a 2010 AWD.

Jeff Lange

iTrader: (1)

Lexus sells the inner tie rods separately.

45503-30080 - Rod, Inner Tie (Qty: 2)
90214-14011 - Claw Washer, Inner Tie Rod (Qty; 2)
90460-55016 - Boot Clamp, Inner Tie Rod (Large, Qty: 2)
90170-14012 - Jam Nut, Tie Rod Inner to Outer (Qty: 2)

Hope that helps!

Jeff

crazy8ship

So they are just being ****** and want me to buy their new $2200 part instead of installing the used one I bought. Bad enough they want $1100 labor to install it.

ColdFusion

iTrader: (2)

I think that's how most dealerships operate; even if there's only one component of a system that needs to be changed, they would rather replace the entire part than deal with the hassle of fixing/identifying the individual part that would need to be fixed. Sometimes hidden issues may lie in other parts within the same system that may break down the line anyways, so dealers might want to play it safe and just change the entire assembly. Lift time is the most valuable to a garage, so if they can have a set schedule for set procedures for certain problems, then it's unlikely they will deviate to their protocol.

That said, whether the dealership is telling you this due to nefarious or greedy reasons is hard to say. If that's what you think then you're inclined to believe whatever you want to believe.

Your story actually reminds me of an r/DIY post (http://imgur.com/gallery/j8Bcp/) of someone with a Camry Hybrid; he found his battery pack to be defective, and the dealer wanted $4400 + labor to replace the entire battery pack. OP on his own fixed the entire issue for less than $10. My guess is the dealer never wanted to bother to minutely examine and fix the cause of the problem, and would rather move the cost onto the consumer and replace the whole thing out of simplicity and time-efficiency.

Bichon

I'm kind of surprised that a Lexus dealership is willing to install owner supplied used parts at all. Especially damaged ones. That's not really their business model.

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

^Exactly what I was thinking. They're saying that the rack is "probably" no good due to the damage that occurred to that tie rod.

crazy8ship

These steering racks are a lawsuit waiting to happen. These seem to be more common then it should. Also I can understand something going bad but in no way should the computer lock the steering wheel while driving when it goes out. I was doing 65mph down the highway when my steering wheel completely locked on me. Luckily I was able to break it free long enough to get pulled over. I know wish I would have just wrecked the car and I wouldn't be in this big hole with this damn car.

Eduskator

TBH I wouldn't have bought a broken steering rack without informing myself first.

I say go to another garage and ask them to do the job. Dealerships are picky and I was surprised when I saw they actually wanted to install a used part.

You had a badluck with your car yes, but now it's even worst since you lost money buying a broken one, trying to fix your issue for cheap. That's why I say go somewhere else and have them fix the new rack and install it.

katsu50

I would recommend going to a reputable garage. In my experience they are usually better in terms of telling you what is actually wrong and the prices aren't are ridiculous as the stealership.

crazy8ship

I thought only Lexus could do the steering because of it needing programmed. If I knew that I would have never taken it to them. Luckily that company I bought the rack from is sending another one and having the one without a tie rod picked up.