[fastfredracing]

My best friends gf from back in high school, ( hot ) contacts me via facebook, and asks if I will look at her 2006 Aveo. She says that everytime she walks in the dealers door, she walks out with a $2000.00 bill.
They failed her ( state inspection) for a bad inner tie rod end, and it is not serviceable through GM so they quoted her for an entire rack and pinion at somewhere around $1100.00.
I have been through this before, and Moog makes an inner tie rod end, costs about $40.00 , goes on like butter, and with an alignment, she is out the door for $250.00. I check it out this morning, and it is not even the inner tie rod end, it is a bad lower control arm bushing. $75.00 arm, and about the same in labor. Job done, no play in front end anymore. I did have to look twice as I at first thought that it indeed , was the inner tie rod end, but it did not feel like it when I wigggled. A closer look ( about 15 seconds of my time) and I discovered the bad bushing.
So did the tech make an honest mistake, or are they trying to make some easy cash?