conversation about LBJ recall with dealership

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:52 pm

I called the dealership today about he LBJ recall. Since I just got a lift, I wanted to get the LBJ replaced so I could get an alignment as well. The guy said that an alignment is not part of the recall. So now I am thinking I will get Moog LBJs and just send to bill to DC. Thoughts?

dirtykj · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:17 pm

Moogs would be a better investment. Looking at it from the dealer's point of view, they are correct that alignment is not part of the recall so it wouldn't be fair to them to have to do this and not charge you for it (did you offer to pay for the alignment?)

pixeldzn · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:18 pm

Most dealers have been charging for the alignment after replacing the ball joints.

Either way you are gonna pay for the alignmnet, I guess. It seems it would be necessary as they have to pull the whole lower arm off.

hyedipin · **Joined:** Thu May 11, 2006 10:20 am **Posts:** 1667

I was lucky enough to get a free alignment (or so they say they did) 1 week after LBJ, I went back and told them it was pulling more than it did before, and they said they will do alignment.. maybe they just balanced, but pull was gone.

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:30 pm

Fair enough... Do we have a part number on the Moogs? I called a local shop and they said none were listed in the computer for the KJ.

dirtykj · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:33 pm

Get in touch with Jeepin Al. He'll raid the warehouses for just the right ones for you.

tzuraw · **Joined:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:52 pm **Posts:** 18

so let me get this straight. I go in to dealership with a nice straight alignment, they work on the car, and then i am forced to pay to get another alignment. I would think they would return the vehicle to me in the condition as it was dropped off. Maybe it is not the dealerships fault maybe it is DC.

Elwenil · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 2:14 pm

Alignment is NOT an issue with this recall. The control arms are NOT removed and therefore the alignment of the vehicle does not change. You leave with the same specs as was on the vehicle when it was brought in. Any change in feel or "pull" will be the result of the tighter ball joints and not an alignment change.

2372ighost · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:29 pm

If you are going to replace with aftermarket LBJ's , make sure you back date the receipt to before the recall. I don't think they will pay after the announcement was made.

Quote

"If you have already experienced this problem and have paid to have it repaired" etc.etc.

moose · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:34 pm

2372ighost wrote:

If you are going to replace with aftermarket LBJ's , make sure you back date the receipt to before the recall. I don't think they will pay after the announcement was made.

Quote

"If you have already experienced this problem and have paid to have it repaired" etc.etc.

if you haven't got your post card, you havea legit beef that you have unsafe LBJs and they won't get to it for a while. seems like you shouldn't have to defraud DCX on this.

Science_Guy · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:37 pm

Quote to install the Moog was $102.60 per LBJ + labor of about $300 to install both of them and do an alignment. So total cost of over $500. I looked at Troy's web site and now see that I can get them for almost half that price. I called the shop back and they will still install them + do the aligment (still $300) if I order them from JeepinByAl. I would still be looking at a cost of over $400 to replace them and hope that DC would pay me back for them. I am leaning more to just getting a free alignment from Goodyear on the front and taking my chances with the LBJs. $400+ is a lot of cash to trust DC will pay me back on them.

desertkj · **Joined:** Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:24 pm **Posts:** 677

Science_Guy wrote:

Quote to install the Moog was $102.60 per LBJ + labor of about $300 to install both of them and do an alignment. So total cost of over $500. I looked at Troy's web site and now see that I can get them for almost half that price. I called the shop back and they will still install them + do the aligment (still $300) if I order them from JeepinByAl. I would still be looking at a cost of over $400 to replace them and hope that DC would pay me back for them. I am leaning more to just getting a free alignment from Goodyear on the front and taking my chances with the LBJs. $400+ is a lot of cash to trust DC will pay me back on them.

Not to mention I highly doubt they would pay you back. I'm sure they would find some way to screw you out of your $400, based on what I've heard about their policies on warranty work.

mikekj_cda · **Posted:** Tue Oct 10, 2006 8:58 pm

Elwenil wrote:

Alignment is NOT an issue with this recall. The control arms are NOT removed and therefore the alignment of the vehicle does not change. You leave with the same specs as was on the vehicle when it was brought in. Any change in feel or "pull" will be the result of the tighter ball joints and not an alignment change.

I feel much better hearing this from a reputable source, thanks Elweni

KJ-BOL · **Posted:** Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:00 am

moose wrote:

2372ighost wrote:

If you are going to replace with aftermarket LBJ's , make sure you back date the receipt to before the recall. I don't think they will pay after the announcement was made.

Quote

"If you have already experienced this problem and have paid to have it repaired" etc.etc.

if you haven't got your post card, you havea legit beef that you have unsafe LBJs and they won't get to it for a while. seems like you shouldn't have to defraud DCX on this.

If I'm reading this part right...... there is no need to have the recall post card to have your LBJs replaced under the recal - at least that is what my dealer told me and did. - I took it in for something else and they told me as long as u are here, lets do the recall too...
As for the alignment - I did not pay for it - did they do an alignment after they changed the LBJs? - yes - so they say....

hyedipin · **Joined:** Thu May 11, 2006 10:20 am **Posts:** 1667

I just printed the letter from website and took it with me, It didn't have my VIN or name or anything. It was pretty generic, they still did the job.
I think it depends on the dealer, if they got the work order from DC or not.

conversation about LBJ recall with dealership

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