BALL JOINTS AGAIN...WATCH THEM

scooter · **Posted:** Wed Feb 01, 2006 8:49 pm

Took mine to the dealer last thursday and it took a whole 20 minutes for them to call my cell and suggest if it was from the lift they wouldnt cover it. I proceeded to ask if they had the balljoint problem fixed after the 02-03 recall or this was the same situation. He replied that he hadnt heard of any 04 and newer having any problems. I heard back from him about 2 hours later and they determined it was indeed the balljoints causing the issues and out of their good will that they would take care of it this one time under the warranty. I replied I only have 27K on the jeep all street miles and I would just take off the lift when they go bad the next time and take it to another dealer. He said he understood.

Joe Jeeper · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2006 5:59 pm

Don't let them intimidate you, call the Chrysler Rep. in the back of the Owner's Manual, guaranteed they will change their tune. Be sure to register a complaint with NTSB like Clint has listed because there's going to be an eventual resolution to this "Bad Engineering". Joe

AJAY · **Posted:** Mon Feb 06, 2006 3:20 pm

Hey all,
I'd like to add to this post as well. First, thank-you all for assisting me in further educating myself on this issue. I've spoken to "JeepinbyAl" as well. I own a 2005 Liberty Limited,lifted it 2.5", and I DO BELIEVE coincidently(typo?), the driver side lower ball joint went bad at 10,500 miles. The Jeep dealer will NOT cover this! All you have given me a solution to this problem and again, I THANK YOU MUCH!! Love this website/forum.

meduncan · **Posted:** Tue Feb 28, 2006 11:25 pm

Thanks for the information on the LBJ. I wouldn't have thought to check that and my KJ is almost out of its warranty period (about 700 miles left). Checked the joints and found that there's about a half inch of play in both the driver and passenger side. I don't have a lift on my KJ so this has to be just a poorly designed part. I'll be getting these replaced before I roll out of my warranty. Thanks again for the great heads up!

winkelhawk · **Posted:** Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:02 pm

So I go to pull out of a parking spot 20mins ago and the passenger side LBJ broke! The worst part is that I had the recall done on the truck already! Now I am waiting for the tow company to pick up the truck. What as pain in the rump! This is out of control wit hthese ball joints, my full size bronco that I beat the hell out of never had any ball joint problems. :evil:

Sorry, just venting, I am glad that it happened in a parking lot and not while I am doing 70. Now I'll have to see if the dealer is going to give me a hard time about the lift!

lilmatty · **Posted:** Fri Mar 24, 2006 2:14 pm

If he does give you a hard time call the customer line 800# in the owner's manual and give them a hard time. They have some 'programs' avaialbe to make you happy. So they say.

I did my own LBJs using Jeepin Al's Moogs but did get a quote from a local outfit; $230 to replace using my parts. In any case the dealer will just put in the same old crap that'll fail again.

My 02 had the recall done at 5000 and the BJs were again bad at 30,000.

winkelhawk · **Posted:** Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:17 pm

I plan on changing them in a few eeks after the parts are replaced. I do not trust them at all. I just want the to replace the joint and the wheel that now has a huge gouge on the inside under warranty!

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Fri Mar 24, 2006 3:25 pm

HOLY CROW! Glad it happened at low speeds. Hate to see that on the LIE.

Which dealer are you using? I had my LBJ's replaced at about 40k with lift and tires and no word was said about mods. I also had the recall (ie, just heat shields) done at about 23k.

I used Town & Country in Levittown (even though I'm in Melville). I've heard less than nice things about Huntington.

winkelhawk · **Posted:** Sat Mar 25, 2006 7:06 am

Yea, I am pretty please that it happened in the parking lot. The truck is a Westbury, which I hate the service department. The only reason it is there is that they did the recall the first time. If just happened that a Chrysler rep was in the office when I was talking to the service agent. He said that all recall work is covered under a lifetime warranty. So, I am not expecting to pay anything for this. I might have to fight to get my wheel replaced though. I have to call and make sure I get the balljoint back after it is replaced.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Sat Mar 25, 2006 11:13 am

Lifetime warranty? That's not the story I got. Did you get the guy's name who said that so we can all refer to that statement?

winkelhawk · **Posted:** Sun Mar 26, 2006 7:51 am

No, he was just sitting in the back office and I heard the conservation. I'll see if I can get his info.

winkelhawk · **Posted:** Tue Mar 28, 2006 7:02 am

So the bill is atleast $1100 so far to repair the balljoint. I think it is going to be aroung $1500 when it is all said and done. Apparently the axle was damaged during the tow and they are telling me that the axle is almost $1100 from the dealer! It also looks like the brake line is leaking and the upper balljoint needs to be replaced. I'm glad I did not get Al's UCA for the Libby yet, it would have ruined that joint. I'll post some pic when I get a chance.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Tue Mar 28, 2006 7:48 am

yes, it's amazing how fast that bill goes up once it's covered under warranty.

winkelhawk · **Posted:** Fri Mar 31, 2006 7:04 am

Here are some pics of the broke joint, http://smbtechnet.com/jeep.htm. Unfortunally, I can not get the old part back because it is being covered under warranty. Hopefuly I'll have the truck back early next week.

NU ARTY BOY · **Posted:** Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:31 pm

The link doesn't work.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Fri Mar 31, 2006 5:41 pm

Take the period out of the link. htm. ==> htm

jsstover · **Posted:** Sun Apr 02, 2006 9:50 pm

03 Liberty with 48K pulling into a parking lot about 10mph, LBJ failure. Notice steering becoming vague. Thought it was due to low PS fluid. Then noticed steering wheel our of alignment and a lot of play in steering and PS not coming back to center.

Be careful!

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:11 am

I HOPE EVERYONE IS REPORTING THESE FAILURES TO NHTSH!

This is extremely important in making sure Jeep pays and hopefully pro-actively fixes (ie, redesigns) the BJ's! Or worse, g-d forbid some gets really hurt one of these times when they sue, AND THEY SHOULD, this will help their court case tremendously.

This is an extremely unsafe situation that DMX needs to address with more than a piece of tin as a heat shield!

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:14 am

File complaints here:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:20 am

Just in case some of you haven't seen this before, here's the official defect from NHTSA:

Search Results
Report Date : April 3, 2006 at 07:18 AM
SEARCH TYPE : VEHICLE
YEAR : 2003
Make : JEEP
Model : LIBERTY
Type : ANY

Results : 1 | All records displayed
Make : JEEP Model : LIBERTY Year : 2003
Manufacturer : DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 03V460000 Mfg's Report Date : NOV 04, 2003
Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 336000
Summary:
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS CAN EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF LUBRICATION THAT CAN LEAD TO CORROSION, ACCELERATED WEAR, AND POSSIBLE SEPARATION FROM THE STEERING KNUCKLE.
Consequence:
A BALL JOINT THATHAS SEPARATED FROM THE KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS WITH MODIFIED ASSEMBLIES AND HEAT SHIELDS ON VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 2, 2001 AND OCTOBER 4, 2002. ON VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN OCTOBER 5, 2002 AND MARCH 26, 2003, DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES (AND REPLACE THEM AS NECESSARY) AND INSTALL HEAT SHIELDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 15, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-992-1997.
Notes:
DAIMLERCHRYSLER RECALL NO. C36. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

BALL JOINTS AGAIN...WATCH THEM

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