[boost til'bust]

tie rods dont go too often on focus'. But it really is just a crapshoot to determine when it will go.

did yours actually break? or did it just have some play in it?

when they break, the most common thing I hear is that it breaks during low speed turns, such as parking, its when they go outside there normal travel, and the joint is a little siezed to begin with. It happens more frequently on some ford trucks, like navigators and expeditions.

sometimes you really cant feel any play in them, and thats all you can really check on an inspection. Its sounds like the dealer is being pretty fair with you, an $80 credit sounds pretty good.

and, just another comment on that mechanic thing, I really dont think you can stereotype mechanics based on where they work. There are good mechanics at some shops, and those same shops will have crappy mechanics too, it really comes down to who is working on your car, not where they work. I think the actual trainning of ford mechanics is superior to any other small shop/midas/speedy/canadian tire, but sometimes a bad attitude or work ethic can work against this training. just my opinion.