Well I drove the Windstar the other day (My daughter usually drives it.) and heard a growling sound from the right front wheel. I first thought it was brake pads but since I had changed them a year or so ago I new it couldnt be that. I put in neutral while going about 35 mph and it wasnt the transmision. I decided to go to Sears and give it a free front end evaluation. I had replaced the lower control arms, both half shafts, inner and outer tie rod ends at earlier time. I new what they confirmed a front right bearing. I asked them what they would charge to do the work and the service writer couldnt locate the part. The labor was $92.00. He said they could get the part from Ford but the total job would be about $400.00. He really didnt know he was throwing numbers around. I asked him if I bought the parts would he put it in for the $92.00 and they said yes. I checked prices at Millenium Ford, Ford Parts and one other site with Millenium Ford having the best price. I purchased the bearing and the hub as it is best there replaced in sets. The price was $114.82 plus shipping. I went over to the Ford dealer a half a mile from my house, showed them the price and they matched it. I said I would rather buy the parts from them and give them the buisness. No waiting, no shipping charges. Went back to Sears and they installed it. They had a deal Monroe shocks installed in the rear for $99.98 with lifetime warranty. (Like Ill get anoher 187,000 miles on this van.
)A four wheel allignment $64.95 and when I went to pick it up I realised that I had 60,000 miles on the tires so I left it and had 3 tires replaced. (One had been replaced under a road hazard warranty a year earlier.
All this babbling leads to a point. If you need dealer parts try the online part dealers and print out your order sheet as if you were going to buy. Give your delaer a chance. Point 2: Take adantage of a place like Sears to do a little diagnostic work. There is no way I was going to do that bearing for $92.00 labor. I no longer have apress to press the bearing in the steering knuckle and if I brought in to a machine shop they would have charged me $10. or $20. I weigh my time against the money involved. Had I had to pay $400.00 that would have been another thing. Just my 2 cents.
01-27-2007, 09:45 AM
