(I'm getting sick of this.
A dealership transmission specialist is way more likely to do an internal trans repair than an independant garage. (Unless of course the independant is a tranny shop named "trans plus" or whatever.) Ask me how I know.
If the chain slips on the variators you might as well replace the whole thing. Hmmmm.... $4000 for a new chain and variators, plus filters, seals and gaskets; or $5000 for a new one with a Ford warranty.
Plus, there is no way an independant has all the special tools just to split the case on one, or all the special tools to reinstall the case half. Trust me, its quite a contraption. About 30 pieces to each tool.
No one should let an independant touch one of these things. I wouldn't even let them flush it because they might put the wrong fluid in which will cause failure. Again, ask me how I know. )
amen fellow technician! nothing can ruin a trans faster then a quicky lube dork using the wrong fluid(or none for that matter)then send it to us to fix(what do you mean there is no warranty on the trans that quickydork just wrecked) these fly by night mechanics sicken me,if people only knew how many 1000's of hours of training we have to take to get master status and it's on going as vehicle systems change every year.