Back in the day when this giant recall came out for almost all Liberty's for the Ball Joints I checked online and at the dealer, both times saying I wasn't under the recall. OK I thought, thats good. So I drove it as normal thinking I'm safe. I got new tires for my jeep, same size. Went off-roading with them, just light mud and stuff, having fun. Then after that I heard a crunching when ever I hit a dip in the road or speed bump. Then one day it stopped making that noise, that day was Sunday. I thought it must of been mud stuck some place and it would just take time to work its way out, so I had no worries really. My recall came in for my Torque Converter, so I had an appointment setup for Monday to look at that crunching sound and my CEL. The day before my appointment my Ball Joint seperated, luckily in town and not on the highway otherwise I could be dead right now.

So to get on with my story, I was coming around a corner in town and I heard a pop and then a dragging sound and I could feel my jeep drag. So I pulled over to the side of the road, I'm in 2wd mind you. So I get out and look over the the jeep, everything looked fine. So I get back in, try to go forward, it doesn't, it just spins on ice. Hmmmm, I roll down the window, look at the tire, try to go forward and the front left tire is skidding a few inches. Ok I thought, maybe my caliper is locked up or something. I was on my way to get my GF from work, so I wanted to get there and deal with it there in a parking lot instead of on the side of a busy road. So I put it in 4wd, still watching the front tire. I give it some throttle and next thing I know my front left corner comes crashing to the ground and my tire goes sideways. I put it in park, get out and look at my jeep again, this time I see the ball joint seperated, not good. I get back in and call the GF, then road side assistance and then wait for the tow truck, road side gave the wrong info to the tow truck driver so he brought the wrong vehicle.

In the end my jeep got back to the dealership that night, the next day I was dropped off and got a van to use while my jeep was being fixed. Both recalls now done. They said the boot on the axle shaft was damaged and will be replaced today and I should have it back today sometime. So thats good, when I get it back I guess I will see how it drives. They looked up the recall again on the computer when I left monday morning and they said that jeep was now under the recall notice, NICE!! LOL, darn jeep.

What a story! At least you are OK... and the dealer is fixing this up for zero cost right?

_________________
02 Liberty Limited
Silver Outside & Taupe Inside
Heated Seats, Sunroof & Infinity speakers
USA Spec I-Pod adaptor, Mopar Sub, Garmin GPS
Tow Package, Select-Trac
Rock Rails, Tow Hooks

yep, all under warranty, no cost to me. Well I have yet to pick it up but when I do I don't plan to pay a red cent.

You were extremely lucky you weren't driving at highway speed or it could have ended up in a serious accident. You should let the dealer know that this recall should have been done when you asked about it.

_________________
DIRTY KJ :: flickr photostream
"Primitive life is very common and intelligent life is fairly rare ... some would say it has yet to occur on Earth" --- Stephen Hawking

how many miles do you have on the ball joints that failed? mike

_________________
06 kj 3.7 nsg 370 np 241 dark khaki

80,000 kms and my CEL came on, my first EGR valve, I get it back tomorrow.

All fixed and works good. Happy so far with it, less power but its allot more snappy now since the EGR valve was replaced and the reprogramming. Didn't cost me a dime, very fast service work. Its all good.

Kinda ironic story....

Left school today and headed to my local dealer to pick up some parts for my liberty...I somehow happened to have a crack in my windshield wiper fluid resevoir of all things...so I had to pick up the bottle and a few other things. As I'm leaving....I see a tow truck and as it pulls forward from the intersection I see a maroon limited KJ being pulled behind. Of course...the drivers side front wheel is dangling off to the side as they pull into the dealership. Moral of the story....those who DON'T get the LBJ recall done...it will come to haunt you. I really wouldn't want to have to call a tow truck on this rainy day to get it taken to the dealership because of a faulty LBJ. Most people probably disregard the notices in the mail about the recall. They most likely don't think it will happen to them....but it does.

I'd be pretty bummed right now if that was my KJ being towed the dealership....

_________________
02' Frankenlifted White Sport on 31" TrXus M/Ts

89' 2 Dr. Khaki XJ- Waggy 44's, 4.88s, 35's, 3-link on 5.5" coils.

It might also haunt the people they crash into, God forbid. One plus about having them done, besides being free and usually quick, is the mechanix usually take a quick look around underneath while they are at it, and anything needing attention could be spotted. I know most of us don't need much coaxing to crawl under the KJ, but some owners rely on the service guys for most of the work, including checking for trouble spots.