BALL JOINT RECALL, WE DID IT!!!!

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Fri Aug 04, 2006 9:42 am

AdamIsAdam wrote:

Is it possible that the heat shield is the "redesign" that the recall refers to?

That is the previous "redesign", as far as I know. The really-fast failures were due to the boots melting, but the underlying problem was the ball joint itself, which did not change. The heat-shield recall DID replace the ball joints, if they were damaged, however. But with the same one.

This recall, however, from what has been reported so far in the news, will be replacing all ball joints, regardless of condition, so that implies that the ball joint itself has changed.

MP Jeeper · **Posted:** Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:11 pm

nyrican52884 wrote:

The dealership told me that if I take in my KJ with a lift the "technician" would take a look and decide if it was caused by the lift kit or the recall. I haven't put my lift kit on yet but if I don't do it next week then the next chance I will have to do it is winter break because I start a new semester at school. Who thinks I should put the lift on and then deal with the dealership later??

i had just installed a Frankenlift on my Renny a week prior to my LBJ failure. When i spoke w/DC about the problem & mentioned the lift they started backpeddling like it couldn't be fixed. i then kindly mentioned that i was fully familiar w/my rights under the Magnussen-Moss act and they were pretty much helpful.

"Magnussen-Moss Act of 1978 was created for consumer protection from manufacturers voiding warrantys without reasonable cause. Most notable feature of the Magnussen-Moss Act is protections for persons with devices, vehicles, or products protected under Warranty. Warrantors are not allowed to make arbitrary decisions in their own favor to void warranties for changes made to these unless they can specifically prove that the added or modified part caused the failure. Although some states prevent attorneys from advertising as specializing in specific fields, there are some that specialize in this field and can be found on the internet. So if you refill your own printerink cartridge and the power cord fails, or add an aftermarket exhaust to your vehicle and a headlight fails, or a variety of other things consumers are likely to do to something they purchase, a manufacturer cannot simply void your warranty with this as the specified cause."

~Wikipedia~

Video Guy · **Posted:** Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:52 pm

I spoke to a tech from a local dealership yesterday, and he confirmed that the new LBJs are in fact a redsigned, new part, and are being issued a new part number. That put my mind at ease a little.

I asked if I should have my LBJs inspected now because I have to take the Liberty on a trip next weekend. He said that I don't have anything to worry about as long as I'm not hearing a "popping" sound when I turn. I drove to work with the windows down and stereo off this morning. I never heard any popping.

This problem comes at a bad time for me because I'm still getting used to the KJ ride and handling with my new tires. Since I put on my Generals the ride on pavement is the same except for a little more "resistance," like I'm weighted down more. I honestly wouldn't know if any altered steering response is due to the tires or something else. Wouldn't the tire shop guys have noticed a ball joint going out when they swapped out my tires?

T.J.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:47 pm

Se7enLC wrote:

AdamIsAdam wrote:

Is it possible that the heat shield is the "redesign" that the recall refers to?

That is the previous "redesign", as far as I know. The really-fast failures were due to the boots melting, but the underlying problem was the ball joint itself, which did not change. The heat-shield recall DID replace the ball joints, if they were damaged, however. But with the same one.

This recall, however, from what has been reported so far in the news, will be replacing all ball joints, regardless of condition, so that implies that the ball joint itself has changed.

Thats right. If your Liberty was recalled previously and the ball joints were bad then they were replaced and the heat shield added. If the ball joints were OK then they added the heat shield and called it good. Here is a link to a pdf on the Moog site that explains the failure conditions a bit better: Moog Problem Solver on the Liberty LBJ failure

MP Jeeper · **Posted:** Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:47 pm

The guys who did your tires probably wouldn't notice unless you told them to look for it & even then . . . maybe. Someone posted here awhile back on how to check your LBJ and it included a video clip showing him checking a bad LBJ. Great post! Check the tech section on forum & i'll bet you could find it. It's pretty easy to check & i would definately check them out B4 going on a big trip. Good luck! :wink:

MP Jeeper · **Posted:** Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:01 pm

Correction. There's a great write up for checking LBJ as well as the above mentioned video clip but it's in the 4x4 discussion area under "how to check your ball joints". Clint has a great write up & if you scroll down about 6 posts there's a video link.

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:17 pm

MP Jeeper wrote:

Warrantors are not allowed to make arbitrary decisions in their own favor to void warranties for changes made to these unless they can specifically prove that the added or modified part caused the failure

While technically true, that doesn't mean that the Magnussen-Moss act is a save-all-end-all of warranty discussions with your dealer. While putting a lift on doesn't effect things like the electrical system, it does not take much work to go from "Well, the front suspension is different, so thusly, everthing that is a part of the suspension is compromised".

Ball joints seem to fail on their own a lot and the investigation they did seems to show that it is due to the bad part that is now being recalled. But if you have an extreme angle and get a torn balljoint boot, that is NOT the balljoints fault, nor is it DC's responsibility to repair it under warranty. That's not to say you shouldn't TRY to get DC to cover it, just don't expect that they should. They can also try to say that a larger tire = more work for the engine and transmission, so it voids your powertrain, but that one is worth fighting them on.

Infrared06 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:33 pm

Bad part = Bad part if the dealer dose do not replace your ball joints under a recall and it is knows the parts are defective it doesn’t matter if your lifted or not when that part fails there getting sued. If they replace the part with a non-defective one and the new one fails because you’re lifted then that’s not there fault.

freckers · **Joined:** Sat Jul 08, 2006 7:54 pm **Posts:** 14

WELL..GEEESH...I JUST GOT MY 2003 JEEP IN APRIL(MY FIRST)..SINCE THEN HEARD ABOUT THE LAST RECALL AND FOUND OUT MY BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED LAST YEAR...HAD TRANSMISSION REPROGRAMMED TWO WEEKS AGO AND HAD THEM CHECK THE BALL JOINTS AGAIN.....NOW THIS RECENT RECALL...SAD WHEN I HAVE HAD THIS CAR ONLY 4 MONTHS AND I ALREADY MISS MY '97 COUGAR I TRADED IN......SORRY LIBBY FANS :cry:

Se7enLC · **Posted:** Sat Aug 05, 2006 9:13 am

freckers wrote:

WELL..GEEESH...I JUST GOT MY 2003 JEEP IN APRIL(MY FIRST)..SINCE THEN HEARD ABOUT THE LAST RECALL AND FOUND OUT MY BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED LAST YEAR...HAD TRANSMISSION REPROGRAMMED TWO WEEKS AGO AND HAD THEM CHECK THE BALL JOINTS AGAIN.....NOW THIS RECENT RECALL...SAD WHEN I HAVE HAD THIS CAR ONLY 4 MONTHS AND I ALREADY MISS MY '97 COUGAR I TRADED IN......SORRY LIBBY FANS :cry:

I just don't get it.... People see a recall and think of it as a negative for the vehicle. The problem has been there for YEARS, and it was well known by the community. The fact that it is now being recalled is making it a BETTER vehicle! The Ball joint and automatic transmission problem were the only two problems, and now they are both fixed. Kudos to DC, I now have the perfect truck!

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:12 am

RockyMtEditionKJ,

I don't think there has been a tranny recall on the '06, only TSB's, unless it is on gassers. There is no obligation for the manufacture or dealer to notify on TSB's, there is on a recall and a dealer who would fudge on this would not only come under manufacture scrutiny but also be violating both state and federal law. Not that there are not a whole lot of stupid dealers.

Se7enLC,

Your concern about the old inventory parts should not be an issue. The manufacture is obligated to replace dealer parts inventory too and it would be stupid for the dealer to not take advantage of that. The greater concern would likely be if they're actually manufactured by MOOG (as some have suggested in other posts) and branded under multiple names for third party parts stores. This recall would not cover those third parties so a NAPA replacement part could well be the same part as the one in the recall. One would be wise to either use the MOOG greasable in the future or stick with OEM.

USED LIBERTY's,

The transfer of ownership is generally well tracked these days through vehicle titles. Unless you have a very strange past on your Liberty the fact that it is used should not prohibit DC from finding you to send out a recall notice. Still it is good to be proactive.

MOOG GREASABLES,

While this may be a good solution it would be wise to really figure out the change in design first. If there is something dramatically different then just making it greasable, although perhaps extending the life, really doesn't solve the bigger picture problem. If MOOG actually makes them for DC I would suspect that MOOG would have a second generation greasable version in the future that would incorporate the changes from the recall design plus add the zerk. It would seem best to wait for that but it also seems like those would not be available until after MOOG had fulfilled their replacement commitment to serve DC's recall which is huge.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:40 am

I don't recall any tranny TSB or recalls on the 2003's. Please post or PM me with the details.

chetos · **Posted:** Sat Aug 05, 2006 9:19 pm

Se7enLC wrote:

freckers wrote:

WELL..GEEESH...I JUST GOT MY 2003 JEEP IN APRIL(MY FIRST)..SINCE THEN HEARD ABOUT THE LAST RECALL AND FOUND OUT MY BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED LAST YEAR...HAD TRANSMISSION REPROGRAMMED TWO WEEKS AGO AND HAD THEM CHECK THE BALL JOINTS AGAIN.....NOW THIS RECENT RECALL...SAD WHEN I HAVE HAD THIS CAR ONLY 4 MONTHS AND I ALREADY MISS MY '97 COUGAR I TRADED IN......SORRY LIBBY FANS :cry:

I just don't get it.... People see a recall and think of it as a negative for the vehicle. The problem has been there for YEARS, and it was well known by the community. The fact that it is now being recalled is making it a BETTER vehicle! The Ball joint and automatic transmission problem were the only two problems, and now they are both fixed. Kudos to DC, I now have the perfect truck!

Amen, brother!!!!!

2006KJSPORT4x4 · **Posted:** Sun Aug 06, 2006 1:20 am

Cowcatcher Said:

Quote:

RockyMtEditionKJ,

I don't think there has been a tranny recall on the '06, only TSB's, unless it is on gassers. There is no obligation for the manufacture or dealer to notify on TSB's, there is on a recall and a dealer who would fudge on this would not only come under manufacture scrutiny but also be violating both state and federal law. Not that there are not a whole lot of stupid dealers.

My bad...I meant the BCM (Body Control Module) not Tranny recall....sorry

miamitj · **Posted:** Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:10 pm

Here are some pics from my '06 CRD -- only 205 miles and 5 days old.

Hope these help ...

ps -- My wifes '02 will be at the dealer tommorow -- there is steering vibes and I expect the LBJ to be bad ... it has 60k miles and has never been to the dealer.

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:15 pm

Hmmm. It was built in May.

Did you compare the two LBJ designs from your 2002 to that one? I don't recall seeing that blue stripe on mine.

But still the heat shield, eh?

miamitj · **Posted:** Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:19 pm

AdamIsAdam wrote:

Hmmm. It was built in May.

Did you compare the two LBJ designs from your 2002 to that one? I don't recall seeing that blue stripe on mine.

But still the heat shield, eh?

Ill take a pic of my wifes when she gets here -- I wanted to look at them anyway .. look for a post in 30 minutes or so ...

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:29 pm

Mine look like they were once yellow where yours is blue. Also, I can see the letters PUP or PUR inscribed on the rubber, facing the front of the KJ.

mine were replaced about 1.5 years ago under recall.

miamitj · **Posted:** Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:37 pm

here are the ones from my wifes KJ -- I believe they are the original ones ...

'02 KJ -- 60k miles

AdamIsAdam · **Posted:** Tue Aug 08, 2006 10:48 pm

what's the wetness from? Raining out or did you spray some cleaner on it or is there a grease leak?

Also, you have the heat shields, so it was at the dealer at some point for those. They installed the heat shields without changing the LBJs?

BALL JOINT RECALL, WE DID IT!!!!

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