I was thinking the same thing

 

I just completed a tune up on my 2004 F150 Lariat at 90,000 miles. I had two plugs break and searched for the same tool, finding similar prices. My suggestion is (this worked for me) to, as mentioned in the TSB, tap down the piece until it hits the U-shaped piece at the bottom of the plug creating room to use a 9mm tap. Screw the tap into the void created by tapping the plug down and pull out the piece. As I mentioned this worked for me......for one plug. The other plug fell into the head when I was tapping the piece down. At that point I had the truck towed to a close friend who has a garage and can pull a head in his sleep, and had him remove the head. Cost me 700 when the dealer wanted that much just to replace the plugs, I can't complain given all the issues people are having with this same issue.

 

I may be able to offer some help. I have a 2005 F-150 5.4 3v with 200,000 miles on it. The first time I had the plugs changed; the dealer did it and broke two. Luckily they stuck with there quote and only charged me $250. Labor. When the TSB came out, they told me it would be $700.00 to $5000.00 to do the plugs. I did a lot or research and did it my self and ALL slugs came out clean (no breaking). It took me 3 hours.
Here is how I did it:
First step: I bought three cans of Seafoam and added one to my gas tank. I ran that entire can through before the next step.
Second step: Warm up your motor and with the truck running pull your vacuum line that goes to your brakes. Pour the entire can of Seafoam in and then turn off the motor. Leave it for one hour then start it. It may be hard to start so feather the pedal a little. LOTS of smoke will come out. Let it idle for about 10 min, and then take it for a spin. Repeat with the second can. This will clear out all carbon.
The last thing you do before D-day is spray a little PB blaster down each plug the day before.

Buy the extraction tool just in case but I didn't need to use it and resold it on e-bay. The lisle 65600 is the one I bought for about $80.00 and replace your plugs with the one piece
Champion 7879.
Hope this helps.
Ryno6

 

I've just bought an 08 FX4 witht he 5.4... not 4,000 on the clock yet... I've got a 99 5.4 I just rebuilt.. it seems to me that WE need to do some preventive maint to help ourselves. I'd install the one peice plugs NOW or atleast remove them and reinstall with anti seize . The stuff is recommended for aluminum heads anyway!! $5.00 and some time now sounds better than 700.00 and days later.

as for this problem in the WORST case the electrode will break before any internal damage is done, just make sure the manifold is off so the parts stay out of the exhaust tube and convertor. I'd go the easy out way and get the part out myself... I've had the heads off of my 99 2V and the timing is a bear.... these are close tollarance engines... if you have it ANYWHERE close to out of time on that head your looking at bent valves....alot worse than what you've got now. if you do it yourself get the right tools.. there are braces that hold the cam in place to remove and reinstall. prep is the biggest part!

 

Push it thru? Come on buddy,! Let me know how that works out for ya!!! HEHE I think you need a new dealer. I would hope your not going to do this.