Let me get this straight. Your warrentee has deductable of half? So a $1,000 repair will still cost you $500? Now I see why changing a S/C and sway bars is est. at $3,000. Because by the time you add in dealer parts costs (over inflated to start)and labor at about $80-110 your looking at roughly $1500.
But unless your S/C was empty of oil and the bearings are fried. Slim chance. Even if the oil was never changed 98% of the time the nylon coupler is bad and needs to be replaced. $50 for parts (including oil)and about on the high side two hours of labor. But very easy DIY job.
I hope I got the wrong idea on your warrentee or you didn't have to pay for it cause that is one of the lamest I've seen.