CV Axle change Damage by dealer.

[ItsaMaverick]

I sent my maverick in the other day to have the passenger CV changed under warranty. I hate not doing the work myself, but it was free under warranty. They ended up beating on the lower aluminum control arm with a steel hammer to get the ball joint out. Here is what I told them:

I took a look at the work and was a little dismayed that they beat on the lower aluminum control arm with a steel hammer to get the ball joint out of the pinch joint. I really wish this had been done with a plastic faced dead blow. Also, it seemed the technician may have not had the correct torx plus bit. Please see the photos below:

Their Response:
I spoke with my fixed ops manager and he said that is the only way to get the ball joint out and that a plastic dead blow would not have worked. As far as the torx bit he is more than willing to take a look at it as it is really hard to tell through the pictures.

What do you all think?

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[ShadowBlack XL440]

I sent my maverick in the other day to have the passenger CV changed under warranty. I hate not doing the work myself, but it was free under warranty. They ended up beating on the lower aluminum control arm with a steel hammer to get the ball joint out. Here is what I told them:

I took a look at the work and was a little dismayed that they beat on the lower aluminum control arm with a steel hammer to get the ball joint out of the pinch joint. I really wish this had been done with a plastic faced dead blow. Also, it seemed the technician may have not had the correct torx plus bit. Please see the photos below:

Their Response:
I spoke with my fixed ops manager and he said that is the only way to get the ball joint out and that a plastic dead blow would not have worked. As far as the torx bit he is more than willing to take a look at it as it is really hard to tell through the pictures.

What do you all think?

I agree, shoddy work by a so called mechanic that does not care. Warranty or not, I prefer to do my own work also. That is with consideration of the total cost. I plan on upgrading my 2024 CV axles on my own dime but if it was the engine or trans it would be on Ford's dime. I upgraded to an AGM battery at my own expense after confirming they would only replace the OEM flooded battery with the exact same undersized battery. There is a difference in TORX bits too. I like to use a strut spreader which saves the control arm from a beating.

 

[matmondro]

I'd be disappointed as well. Poor work. Tech should have used a pickle fork or separator.

 

[OleFordGuy]

Well, first, I'm no where close to being a mechanic; second, so far I've had zero issues with my MY22 eb, so I don't have a comparison repair to relate to; that being said, your pics seem to be shoddy workmanship to my untrained eyes, especially from a ford certified dealership/technician, seam's they just beat the crap out of it

 

[710-oil-614]

Yep, not okay at all.

 

[JMOMAV]

I sent my maverick in the other day to have the passenger CV changed under warranty. I hate not doing the work myself, but it was free under warranty. They ended up beating on the lower aluminum control arm with a steel hammer to get the ball joint out. Here is what I told them:

I took a look at the work and was a little dismayed that they beat on the lower aluminum control arm with a steel hammer to get the ball joint out of the pinch joint. I really wish this had been done with a plastic faced dead blow. Also, it seemed the technician may have not had the correct torx plus bit. Please see the photos below:

Their Response:
I spoke with my fixed ops manager and he said that is the only way to get the ball joint out and that a plastic dead blow would not have worked. As far as the torx bit he is more than willing to take a look at it as it is really hard to tell through the pictures.

What do you all think?

Looks like a hammer happy idiot worked on your truck.
Sorry that happened to you and your Maverick. I'm sure there are good techs at dealers but very few and it's a long shot that he or she gets your repair ticket.
Short of an engine or transmission , I will just do the repair myself.

 

[UTAlumnus]

Try to get better pictures of the torx & then complain to Ford corporate. This is the entire point of hammers with exchangeable faces. It didn't even need to be a deadblow hammer. There's no excuse for a dealer mechanic not having the correct tools.

I went this route when the local fumble-fingered genius damaged the wiring running down the pillar doing the airbag recall. The damage didn't make itself fully known until I was 200 miles away. The nearest dealer took two months to find the problem.

 

[Snox801]

Try to get better pictures of the torx & then complain to Ford corporate. This is the entire point of hammers with exchangeable faces. It didn't even need to be a deadblow hammer. There's no excuse for a dealer mechanic not having the correct tools.

I went this route when the local fumble-fingered genius damaged the wiring running down the pillar doing the airbag recall. The damage didn't make itself fully known until I was 200 miles away. The nearest dealer took two months to find the problem.

Agree I remember many times using a hammer with replacement heads. Many time even lead ones. They simply work and don’t damage. This guy just didn’t wanna spend the time.
no way it that acceptable.

 

[ShadowBlack XL440]

I'd be disappointed as well. Poor work. Tech should have used a pickle fork or separator.

I personally never like to use a pickle fork when reusing the balljoint. Pickle forks tend to destroy the rubber boot which is a quick death to the balljoint.

 

[Oscarcat]

Unacceptable. Knowing correct procedures and having the correct tools is the main reason [besides this being a warranty claim] I would take a vehicle to the dealership.

Thqnks for posting this. If/when I take my '24 hybrid in for that repair, I will take before photos. AND, I did not know there were different types of Torx!

 

[Mavericksport]

Well, first, I'm no where close to being a mechanic; second, so far I've had zero issues with my MY22 eb, so I don't have a comparison repair to relate to; that being said, your pics seem to be shoddy workmanship to my untrained eyes, especially from a ford certified dealership/technician, seam's they just beat the crap out of it

Is your maverick stock height? How many miles are on it? Thanks

 

[OleFordGuy]

Is your maverick stock height? How many miles are on it? Thanks

completely stock with exception of minor accessories, i.e. bed cover, bed rug, bug shield etc., right at 27K miles, mostly normal road miles, but good bit of off road hunting club dirt/mud/ruts trails, etc, typical stuff

 

[Mavericksport]

completely stock with exception of minor accessories, i.e. bed cover, bed rug, bug shield etc., right at 27K miles, mostly normal road miles, but good bit of off road hunting club dirt/mud/ruts trails, etc, typical stuff

Thanks. Mine is a 2022 , EB with 11k miles. No issues for me either. But Mine is lowered about 4 inches and 21" rims. So I'm wondering about the CV axeles . It just went in for recalls, and I'm glad I held off on buying a new battery. It was replaced under the recall. What a difference. I'm loving my Maverick so far.

 

[ItsaMaverick]

I think my driver side may be starting to growl a little now. Think I will do it myself this time.

 

[Glassmaker]

For your consideration, an OTC Ball Joint Spreader tool. I've owned and used this tool removing ball joints for decades. Your

Ford service manager is an idiot. This tool makes removal almost effortless and certainly preserves the rubber boot in addition to preventing control arm/spindle damage.

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