Had the dealer replace tie rod end and do a front end alignment about 2 months ago. The past couple weeks the steering seems to wander a bit and doesn't feel right.
This morning I hear a pop/bang sound when backing out of the driveway and turning the steering wheel to change direction. So, I put a floor jack under the right side. Lift the front wheel clear and grab it and moves in-out about 3" and I can feel something is loose.
I turned the wheel to the left to see the rear area behind the tire and notice that the upper rear control arm bolt has NO NUT and the bolt is coming out!
I call the dealer and tell them the issue. They have me call a tow service to pick up the Escalade and bring it to the shop. I get a call that they have the vehicle and they tell me that the upper rear control arm bolt is missing the adjusting nut (I already told them that when I first called).
He tells me that they can put a nut on it and tighten it up but they cannot do an alignment because the spindle bearings (he said equivalent to wheel bearings) where worn out and needed to be replaced. He tells me they cannot align the front end with bad bearings.
So I asked him how he was going to take care of me and resolve the issue. He tells me he'll put the nut on and that's it. I have to pay $600 to have new bearings installed before they do an alignment!
I ask him to explain it to me a bit further. He says that the bearings should only have a few .001" end play and mine have almost 1/2" and they cannot do an alignment with that much slop in the steering system. Makes sense to me and I understand the requirement to install new bearings based on what he's telling me BUT I ask how could they have done an alignment in November (2 months ago) if the bearings are this bad? He tells me they couldn't have done the alignment with these bad bearings and I must have hit a pot hole.
I take a deep breath and calmly and logically share my thoughts...
1. The truck was inspected by the dealer and they gave me a list of repairs including new tie rod end and alignment.
2. The dealer does this work on the truck and all is fine for about 6 weeks. Then the steering starts to feel soft and the truck wanders a bit on the road.
3. I hear the pop/bang and find out a main suspension item has a bolt about to fall out because the nut is missing.
4. Now the bearings are bad and need to be replaced on the SAME side.
I feel strongly that the dealer should replace the bearings, replace the bolt & nut, and do an alignment FOR FREE.
Am I being unreasonable to associate the bearing issue with the faulty workmanship from the dealer and the vehicle being driven for several weeks with a worsening issue?
Ask the dealer service advisor if they would pick up the tab on a second alignment after you had the wheel bearings replaced..if he wont play ball call GM customer care 866-790-5600..they will squeeze the dealers service dept to meet you halfway.
Hope to get some more feedback from the group as I plan to visit the dealership first thing in the morning. May contact the GM customer care line and explain the situation to them before getting to the dealer in the morning.
well considering that the nut missing is most likely their fault since they did an alignment on it... being that they were negligent in their repair and in being so your vehicle has suffered damage because of such and considering they are also saying that because of the wear of the bearings they cannot do an alignment but yet 6 weeks ago or so they performed such meaning that the bearings were good enough then to do it, I would say they should definitely meet you at least in the middle with the repair or I would take them to small claims court. And I dont know what state your in but here in TX where its a triple damages state for this kind of thing... it might be in their best interest to eat some of it now before taking a much larger hit in court.
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