So I took my 2003 Element into the Honda dealer get the compliance bushings replaced. The shop that initially detected the problem told me that both lower control arms would need replacing, not because there was anything wrong with them, but because in the course of pressing in the new bushings, the arms would get damaged so we'd be better off just starting with whole new arms. This sounded sketchy to me, since none of my reading on this forum implied that the very common Element compliance bushing problem required replacement of the lower arms. At best, I figured the shop was not properly equipped to do the job, so I went to the local Honda dealer, being new to the city and not having received any better recommendations from friends.
The dealer successfully replaced the passenger side compliance bushing, but called later in the day to report that while separating the driver's side lower control arm from the knuckle, the "ball joint just came apart". Now I am being presented with a bill for an extra $650 and the information that in six years of working at the Honda dealership, the sales manager has "never seen this happen before" and that "sometimes parts just break". I have seen the broken ball joint pieces and can see no evidence that the joint was cracking or about to blow. They additionally assure me that the passenger side ball joint is just fine.
My questions are as follows, fellow Element owners!
1. Is this something I should be expected to pay for? To me, this is coming off as a technician error. Everything I have read here about ball joints implies that with the proper tool a good mechanic will be able to pop the control arm off the ball joint, but that a not so good mechanic will sometimes screw it up and break a perfectly good ball joint.
2. Why is the knuckle replacement estimate coming in so high? I understand that on the Element a broken ball joint means replacing the entire knuckle, not just the ball joint like is possible in many other vehicles, but he is ordering parts beyond the knuckle itself. My parts estimate says $428 for "LF Knuckle and Bearing" and then another $85 for an ABS Sensor. What is this bearing that needs replacing? And why the ABS sensor? I was told that both of those pieces are "worst case scenario" and will only need replacing in the event that removing the old knuckle breaks the existing bearing and sensor. At least this time they are telling me in advance that their way of removing things breaks all the surrounding pieces, I guess.
I'm feeling a little bruised by this entire process. I ditched one sketchy shop in favour of the dealer, but it doesn't feel like my caution is paying off at all. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!
The dealer successfully replaced the passenger side compliance bushing, but called later in the day to report that while separating the driver's side lower control arm from the knuckle, the "ball joint just came apart". Now I am being presented with a bill for an extra $650 and the information that in six years of working at the Honda dealership, the sales manager has "never seen this happen before" and that "sometimes parts just break". I have seen the broken ball joint pieces and can see no evidence that the joint was cracking or about to blow. They additionally assure me that the passenger side ball joint is just fine.
My questions are as follows, fellow Element owners!
1. Is this something I should be expected to pay for? To me, this is coming off as a technician error. Everything I have read here about ball joints implies that with the proper tool a good mechanic will be able to pop the control arm off the ball joint, but that a not so good mechanic will sometimes screw it up and break a perfectly good ball joint.
2. Why is the knuckle replacement estimate coming in so high? I understand that on the Element a broken ball joint means replacing the entire knuckle, not just the ball joint like is possible in many other vehicles, but he is ordering parts beyond the knuckle itself. My parts estimate says $428 for "LF Knuckle and Bearing" and then another $85 for an ABS Sensor. What is this bearing that needs replacing? And why the ABS sensor? I was told that both of those pieces are "worst case scenario" and will only need replacing in the event that removing the old knuckle breaks the existing bearing and sensor. At least this time they are telling me in advance that their way of removing things breaks all the surrounding pieces, I guess.
I'm feeling a little bruised by this entire process. I ditched one sketchy shop in favour of the dealer, but it doesn't feel like my caution is paying off at all. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!
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