Argh!!! I took my car in for an oil change and front

[Phoenix61]

brake pad replacement. Good news... the brake pads are fine. Bad news ... the CV joint boot is torn and everyone wants to replace the axle for $1,000!!! I miss my dad. He would have replaced the boot.

[drray23]

1. If the axle is deficient, its not enough to replace the boot.

You could crash and have an accident. Maybe get a second opinion from another mechanic if you do not trust this one.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. How many miles on the axle?

Is it the original, or was it replaced before? There is an expected service life on them, and original or aftermarket may vary.

Paying to replace a boot on an axle 1/2 way through its service life might not be a good investment either.

[Phoenix61]

5. It's original. 2014 Ford Escape with 126,000 ish miles.

I wouldn't call it an early failure but definitely not something I was expecting. I'm trying to look on the bright side. I'm headed to a concert the end of next week and it's about 6 hours away. At least it didn't fail on I-75 doing 70 miles an hour.

[SheltieLover]

3. Does the axle have lifetime replacement warranty? (Some do!)

That seems like a lot of money to replace an axle, imo.

[Phoenix61]

4. Sadly it doesn't have a lifetime warrenty. Two places

quoted me the same price. I wouldn't be surprised if the tariffs don't have something to do with it. Lots of after market parts are from China.

[SheltieLover]

6. Buy OEM, not Chinese junk!

[Niagara]

7. I'm not mechanically inclined and I'm a former 2010 Ford Escape owner

This is going to be only the beginning of your Ford Escape issues. I know from experience.

I wish I had just gotten rid of the freaking money pit and used the money that I paid for repair after repair after repair on a newer certified vehicle.

In the end it was so rusted out that the frame was shot and it wouldn't pass state inspection.

ugh!