Warning: New Ball Joints Failed 2 Days after installation

dparis · **Joined:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:12 pm **Posts:** 15

Well it happened, weird enough after the new ball joints were installed.

Took my Liberty in on Monday - they put in the new ball joints per the recall - have a 2003 with 60,000 miles on it.

Drove around for two days, no problem. Last night, was pulling into my driveway when I heard a huge thud and then the wheel rubbing against the fender well until it stopped forward motion.

Apparently, the NUT that holds the Lower Ball Joint together stripped off in the process and disintegrated into thin air. I was left with a pile of crap in the drive way.

Dealership towed it in after putting a new nut on in the driveway so it could be rolled onto the rollback. They supposedly fixed it, by putting on a new nut, BUT did not put in another pair of lower ball joints. Inside of fender well all f'ed up - they wont do anything about that.

2 minutes before the failure I was rolling down the interstate at 70 mph. I have lost all faith in this vehicle.

BEWARE - what do you all think?

gunflint · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:04 pm

Don't lose faith in the vehicle. It got you home didn't it? I certainly wouldn't have any faith in the dealership. I would be raising all kinds of heck with them from the owner on down. I would demand that the wheel well be replaced also. Might have to get a little aggressive with them but don't let up.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:30 pm

I agree with the above statement,sounds more like a dealer screw up more than the KJ,mechanic probably cross threaded the nut somehow

dparis · **Joined:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:12 pm **Posts:** 15

Well, the LBJ area is dangerous. Spent the entire time at the dealership with the mechanic watching him work. He was seen 30+ Liberty's drop a wheel like this including several AFTER the recall work had been done. Just a bad design - why should they need to be replaced every 20,000 miles. I feel like Jeep cheated me - they replace the failed parts with essentially the same parts. I think it is time to trade her in for a new 2007 Wrangler or start looking at other brands.

They only wanted to give me $7,000 on the trade in value for a 2003 with 60,000 miles. :shock:

Jeger · **Posted:** Wed Nov 29, 2006 7:24 pm

Are you sure they arent just trying to scare you into a new vehicle? If they have had so many fail after the new joint is installed maybe their mechanics are crossthreading a whole bunch. I would certainly take it somewhere else after you get everything that could have been damaged replaced.

dparis · **Joined:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 8:12 pm **Posts:** 15

No they aren't trying to scare me, they smiled and said everything was OK. By the fact that they had a used Liberty - 2003 - 55,000 miles - on the lot for $15,900 and only offered $7,000 for mine showed me pretty quick that they didn't care to deal or sale me anything if I wanted to trade.

Wahoo650 · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 3:29 pm

When mine failed back in June, it ruined the wheel and the fender liner. Dealer replaced both with no issue. Make them repair all of the damage. If they won't, call your regional rep. and get DCX involved.

And yes, the one that failed on my '02 was from the first recall replacement :evil:

moose · **Posted:** Thu Nov 30, 2006 4:43 pm

MOOGS! I haven't heard of anyone having problems with Moog LBJs....

KJ04 · **Posted:** Sat Jan 27, 2007 11:22 am

moose wrote:

MOOGS! I haven't heard of anyone having problems with Moog LBJs....

So who's been running the Moogs long enough to know there won't be a problem with them also?

Warning: New Ball Joints Failed 2 Days after installation

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