Tie Rods

So the inspectors said the tire rods were shot, and some dealership (or other garage) concurred and said $800 to replace? Or are the inspectors also the ones who gave you the quote? Sorry, that's just the way it reads, and if that's the case it sounds kind of fishy.

If everything's kosher, $800 doesn't sound unreasonable, btw. That the way it is these days, parts are pricey, and there's a fair bit of labour.

Steering Gear & Linkage for 2010 Toyota Prius | Toyota Parts

 

i would run from that place

 

how many miles on her?

 

try a different place

 

I would take it to another shop that specializes in alignments and see what they say and there is a good chance they do state inspections too. I ran into this with brakes one time when I lived in Pennsylvania, the inspector failed me because of my brakes and I used to be the kid that checked cars at another inspection station so I went to my old boss and pulled the wheel and he said there is nothing wrong with those brakes and put a sticker on it.
I'm not saying your tie rods are good or bad but I would at leas get another opinion and price. I don't know about the Prius but I never heard of replacing a rack to get new tie rod ends.

 

Looks like Toyota sells the tie rod outer ends separately, but the inner ends only as part of the rack (even though the repair manual, IIRC, explains how to R&R them). So this inspector must be claiming that the inners are worn out, if they think the rack has to be replaced.

And the quotes are supplied by the inspector (are they a shop that would do the work themselves, or did they supply you a quote from a shop they have some, cough, relationship, cough, with?).

Seeing as you've noticed no steering looseness or instability or other issue, I would just go to some other well-regarded shop that has no connection to this inspector, and see what they say. If they show you the tie rods are ok, I'd look for a state whistleblower number to have a chat about this particular inspector.

-Chap

 

Even if they're right, it seems too cosy, for the inspectors to be quoting and/or doing repairs. Too much temptation, when a failed inspection is their meal ticket.

 

They sell remanufactured racks on the Rock Auto website with the inner tie rod installed and the outers are seperate.
If you mess with tie rods you will have to have the alignment checked.

 

Call your favorite Toyota dealer, make an inspection appointment, and take it there for a -proper- checkup! Check around of course, some dealers are very good to buy a car at, some are very good service wise. The two may not always be the same.

 

If you get a pass at a dealership maybe pass all the paper work on to whoever licenses the inspectors. And go after them for whatever the dealership charged you.

 

Unfortunately, that's the model most states have adopted here in the US. It is indeed a dubious arrangement -- kind of a case of the fox watching the hen house.

 

When I worked at an safety inspection station in Pennsylvania many years ago it was common for the garage to do the repairs.

You quote the customer a price and he says yes or no.

I live in one of the two counties in Indiana where we are required to have a pollution inspection every two years and it it free and is totally ran by the state. If you fail you have to take your car somewhere else for repairs then have the test done all over again.

 

Up here (British Columbia, Canada) in the 80's they had a safety inspection program, with dedicated, government-run stations. They were inspection only, completely arms-length from any repair process. They checked your brakes (on some kind of skid pad), all the lights, various items, made sure the car was roadworthy.

That was ditched, but inspections continued for compliance with pollution restrictions. That's ditched too now; it's back to the Wild West: lot of vehicles on the road with no daytime running lights (supposedly mandatory up here), burnt out license/running/brake/head lights. And lots of stinkers. We progress.

 

Indiana did away with their state safety inspection back in the mid 70's right after I moved here. I thought it was great just once a year because Pennsylvania it was done two times a year. Indiana had a totally different attitude about safety than Pennsylvania. Several year ago Pennsylvania went to an annual inspection. I don't know if all counties in Pa. have a pollution inspection but the ones around Pittsburgh where I was from still have it.

 

800 bucks ain't that bad for the amount work work and parts.

 

Take it elsewhere. Have a trustworthy mechanic check it out. If they say nothing’s wrong, go to another inspector. Then, report the first guy to the authorities who certify inspectors. Frankly, I’d not trust the word of an inspector who offers to have his shop “fix” a problem unless I can see for myself the part has failed.

This kind of scam sadly does happen.

 

I don't know if they take you to your car and physically show you what is wrong and explain exactly what needs done or they just have a service writer tell you over the counter your car failed state inspection and here is what it will cost to fix it.
I realize some people wouldn't know if you showed them but I would if I ran the business, at least I would try.