Do I go back?

[MattMPA]

I picked up my '22 GT within an hour of it arriving at the dealership. I am the only one to service it since delivery. It has some little marks under the hood from assembly. While some of this could have happened to your during the strut brace install, it's likely some was already there. You simply didn't study the area before. (We have friends with a body shop...and they are careful to point things out before starting a repair as customers will have a very critical eye when they pick up the car)

I am more than a little particular with my cars. I've built several national award winning show cars. Get used to it....nothing....is....perfect. Grab some touch-up paint and carefully hit those spots. Then...enjoy your car!

I really like my Mustang...can't imagine anything I'd rather have...but they aren't even close to perfect. Yes, it's disappointing, but it's a production car. As I've gotten older, I've come to be a bit more relaxed about these things. Sure, you can pay it off...and replace it....but something else will be less than perfect on the next vehicle and you're just starting over.

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[GrabberBargeCaptain]

Yep. It's a Mustang not a Ferrari or irreplaceable classic car.

 

[luca1290]

If you look closely, I noticed they messed up both studs that the brace attaches too as well. I took the car to Ford to see if they could replace said studs, they said they are not replaceable, and it would be about 5k in work to replace the entire area. Is this true? Obviously it’s cosmetic but it truly does bother me. That’s really what made my mind up.

Except the minor cosmetic damage, the point here is that they snapped one of the two bolts because they over torqued it.
And to replace it they had to remove the wheel, and I'm not sure if that can be reached with the suspension mounted or you have to take it off.

Since it looks like they were allergic to torque wrenches the first time around, I don't think they became better after breaking the stud.

Look out for misalignment, vibration, noises or the car going sideways when straight.

 

[geezer stang]

I wish I could have that mentality, it just bothers me so much I’m going to ask them to make it right, after all they have a paint department.

it's seems that shop mechanics are in short supply,they're demanding more money and have less of a skill set. all of a sudden,everybody's an "expert technician"(but last week you were the car wash/oil change guy)the times we live in(post pandemic) have skewed the mindset,people want more for shoddy work!

 

[K4fxd]

I did end up going back and they’re going to make it right,

I would have done the same, both as a shop owner and as a customer. These scratches never should have happened.

 

[Mach 307]

My main concern really is that the stud was replaced. There is no proper OEM fix for that and unfortunately it will always bother me. The paint is nothing that wouldn’t have been something to cause me to trade, but as I said my plan is pay the car off this year and trade due to the stud issue. I’m very hurt, I love this car.

 

[K4fxd]

My main concern really is that the stud was replaced.

Talk about OCD.

That stud is not structural or critical, and is easily replaced (fixed). Maybe an hours work tops? Remove tire, remove strut, and you have access.

They are spot welded from the factory so the repair is probably a lot stronger.

 

[KingKona]

I cannot figure out how you OCD people make it through life like this.

 

[Mach 307]

All jokes aside, it’s not easy. The only thing I am OCD like this about is my cars though.

 

[KingKona]

The only thing I am OCD like this about is my cars though.

That's an expensive issue to have. You're going to lose tons of money getting rid of a car that has absolutely nothing wrong with it.

 

[ORRadtech]

That's an expensive issue to have. You're going to lose tons of money getting rid of a car that has absolutely nothing wrong with it.

Especially in a years time. The used car market is not what it once was...

 

[Mach 307]

I guess I’m looking at it as, positives: car will be paid off and probably by then I’ll be fine with it, if not I have a trade with substantial value to upgrade to a premium with the performance package and an improved credit score from paying it off.

 

[KingKona]

I guess I’m looking at it as, positives: car will be paid off and probably by then I’ll be fine with it, if not I have a trade with substantial value to upgrade to a premium with the performance package and an improved credit score from paying it off.

Your credit score will not improve from paying it off. Banks prefer to see the looooong pay-off that nets them the most amount of finance profit.

And regardless of how you look at it, you'd be losing a lot of money for no reason.

 

[furdfan2018]

If you look closely, I noticed they messed up both studs that the brace attaches too as well. I took the car to Ford to see if they could replace said studs, they said they are not replaceable, and it would be about 5k in work to replace the entire area. Is this true? Obviously it’s cosmetic but it truly does bother me. That’s really what made my mind up.

With how bad this simple job was executed, I have to imagine every worker at this "shop" is a current or former .gov employee.

The furthest "stud" in the picture has absotuley been replaced with what appears to be a bolt. You should remove the tire and plastic liner to see what kind of fukkery they performed under there.

Good lord.

 

[Sean22]

I wish I could have that mentality, it just bothers me so much I’m going to ask them to make it right, after all they have a paint department.

They're gonna give you a paint pen from the parts shop and call it good

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