Daughters 4Runner stranded HELP

[Foglight]

My daughter was in Salem Oregon and she stopped and made a 10 MPH left turn and the left tie rod end fell off!!!!! She was able to fight it to the curb and call a tow truck. The local Toyota Dealer told her that the tie rod end had stripped and the repair was going to be $620.00. Now I am 4 hours away but this doesn't sound like a fair price. Inner and outer Tie rods for one side are about $65.00 a peice ($120 total) Front end alignment ($150) and labor ($200). Can someone help me; as I come up with about $470 and not $620. I do not have experience with 2002 4Runner Toyota front ends. Her 4Runner has about 130,000 miles and real strange the rod just strips out, but we are blessed she was only moving at 10 MPH. Thank you for the help, John

 

[Pikeman]

Well the other possibility is that the actual sleeve portion of the Tie rod might be stripped. If this is the case it would be TRE and tie rod itself. Wish I could help more but I am not familiar with shops in that area.

 

[JohnsD90]

Rent a uhaul car tower and bring the truck home. Or find a AAA reccomended shop nearby.

 

[brian2sun]

Even $200 for labor is too high, it's not hard to replace them nor does it take long. I would say ~$300 would be more like it. An alignment should be ~$65-75.

 

[J-money$$$]

Even $200 for labor is too high, it's not hard to replace them nor does it take long. I would say ~$300 would be more like it. An alignment should be ~$65-75.

thats more like it. Alignments usually run $50 down here. and to replace all four tie rods (outer, inner on both sides) is about an hour job. I have done it before. Id say your getting ripped if its more than $350 with parts labor and alignment

 

[arracado]

Glad she's safe. Sounds like the stealership's got you by the balls, but if it's already there, and you're paying for the towing, you might just be better off eating the difference and having them do it. Either that or find a shop nearby that can do it cheaper.

 

[GX4SEVEND]

Wish I would have read this sooner. I'm from salem and use to work at that dealership. Let me know if you need some help.

 

[Elton H]

200 for labor ? ill come lay in the rain for 20 dollars and do it

 

[broncosi]

If I were you, I would have them tow it to a retail tire place like Just Tires or Discount Tire. Replacing a tie rod is not complicated and definitely not that expensive. They will do it for a reasonable price and do the job right.