Just had my sub-frame replaced, new questions at end!! HELP

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

To make another long story short...(If you just read my previous thread). I just had my 2002 Jeep Liberty subframe replaced with one from an 05 libby. After we got the jeep back, I crawled under it and noticed the drivers side axle shaft oil seal is leaking really really bad! The passenger side one is wet also, but not to bad. I brought this to the shops attention and they said they are not responsible. First they said they did not pull the shafts, and then they changed to "That is normal wear and tear on that jeep, and is a common problem with those jeeps" WTF!!! Are you kidding me? I would imagine they had to pull the shafts, correct? If not, and they just let the shafts hang there isnt that horrible to do?
Thanks, Denton

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:12 pm

99xjclassic wrote:

To make another long story short...(If you just read my previous thread). I just had my 2002 Jeep Liberty subframe replaced with one from an 05 libby. After we got the jeep back, I crawled under it and noticed the drivers side axle shaft oil seal is leaking really really bad! The passenger side one is wet also, but not to bad. I brought this to the shops attention and they said they are not responsible. First they said they did not pull the shafts, and then they changed to "That is normal wear and tear on that jeep, and is a common problem with those jeeps" WTF!!! Are you kidding me? I would imagine they had to pull the shafts, correct? If not, and they just let the shafts hang there isnt that horrible to do?
Thanks, Denton

They would have to pull the CV's to replace the cradle,and no those seals are not a common problem unless you are not careful putting the CV's back into the diff.

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

tjkj2002 wrote:

99xjclassic wrote:

To make another long story short...(If you just read my previous thread). I just had my 2002 Jeep Liberty subframe replaced with one from an 05 libby. After we got the jeep back, I crawled under it and noticed the drivers side axle shaft oil seal is leaking really really bad! The passenger side one is wet also, but not to bad. I brought this to the shops attention and they said they are not responsible. First they said they did not pull the shafts, and then they changed to "That is normal wear and tear on that jeep, and is a common problem with those jeeps" WTF!!! Are you kidding me? I would imagine they had to pull the shafts, correct? If not, and they just let the shafts hang there isnt that horrible to do?
Thanks, Denton

They would have to pull the CV's to replace the cradle,and no those seals are not a common problem unless you are not careful putting the CV's back into the diff.

Thats what I thought. So there is absloutly no possible way to change the cradle out without pulling the shafts.

Pote · **Posted:** Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:03 pm

from reading your recent posts...I think its time to start getting your legal ducks in a row...that shop is trying to cover their poor workmanship as well as giving you misinformation....they already have your money I assume, so they are going to be giving you the runaround with as many problems as you pointed out in just two threads....I bet there are some additional problems that are ready to crop up. that sucks man...I hope you can get it all straightened out, doesn't look good with having a cradle that wasn't made for your year...I bet they jerry-rigged whatever they could to make it all go back together and now its showing its ugly head. best of luck and keep us posted.

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

They just told me today they jacked the axle up which allowed them to replace the cradle without removing the axle shafts.
Is this possible? Or is this more garbage?

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:04 pm

99xjclassic wrote:

They just told me today they jacked the axle up which allowed them to replace the cradle without removing the axle shafts.
Is this possible? Or is this more garbage?

Garbage,the diff needs to be completely removed to replace the cradle.

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

Oh yeah the motor mount was disconnected also. They said it just "popped off" We drove it for 5 weeks like this until we realized where the clunking was coming from. They also didnt connect the steering gear boot (rack and pinion boot )they forgot to clamp it. This was exposed also for 5 weeks. Who knows what else they did or didn't do
Just talked to them today and they are sticking by there story of not pulling the axle shafts!
They said the seals were already leaking! BS! If they would have told me that, don't you think I would have had them replaced. They have nothing in writing or pics to prove it. These people are crooks!

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

Just got this letter in the mail today from my insurance rep. It reads as follows:

This letter serves as a follow up to our conversation on 3-28-08. Our conversation was regarding your axle shaft leakage, your rack and pinion dust boot clamp and your tires rubbing on your fender liner. The shop will replace the dust boot clamp for you as a customer service gesture. The other items however cannot be covered as part of the loss.
As we discussed the item in question is the axle shaft. Where the axle shaft is leaking is on the opposite side of where your lower control arm replaced. The axle was not disconnected or serviced in any way to cause damage. The leaking is result of normal wear and tear on the part in question.
The second item we checked for you was the rubbing of your wheels on the inside of your fender liner. This rubbing is due to the size of the tires on your vehicle. Although your owners manual states that size tire should fit they are apparently too large for your wheel opening. In order to remedy this smaller tires should be put back on your vehicle.

Are you kidding me?????
Thanks for the gesture 20 cent clamp!
Looks like the insurance company is on the shops side
I guess I will see them in court

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:52 pm

245/70/16 tires will fit a stock liberty with little rubbing.

I guess its possible they left the axles in the diff and just took it all out at one time. Not really a smart thing to do but it sounds like they are stupid. Are you sure they even changed out the cradle? It doesnt just 'pop' out.

And yes, youve got threads all over the place. :shock:

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

Jeepjeepster wrote:

245/70/16 tires will fit a stock liberty with little rubbing.

I guess its possible they left the axles in the diff and just took it all out at one time. Not really a smart thing to do but it sounds like they are stupid. Are you sure they even changed out the cradle? It doesnt just 'pop' out.

And yes, youve got threads all over the place. :shock:

Yeah they did change out the cradle. I could visually see the damage on the old one by the cam bolt on the LCA.
Could leaving the shafts in while pullin the diff create both seals to leak? I know for a fact they were not leaking b4 it went into that shop.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 02, 2008 4:05 pm

99xjclassic wrote:

Jeepjeepster wrote:

245/70/16 tires will fit a stock liberty with little rubbing.

I guess its possible they left the axles in the diff and just took it all out at one time. Not really a smart thing to do but it sounds like they are stupid. Are you sure they even changed out the cradle? It doesnt just 'pop' out.

And yes, youve got threads all over the place. :shock:

Yeah they did change out the cradle. I could visually see the damage on the old one by the cam bolt on the LCA.
Could leaving the shafts in while pullin the diff create both seals to leak? I know for a fact they were not leaking b4 it went into that shop.

There is no way to pull the cradle without removing the diff,which unless you want to add about a hours worth of extra work you need to pull the CV shafts out of the diff to get it out of the cradle,even if the cradle was laying on the ground and not bolted in the KJ.

You need to demand that a '02 cradle be placed in your '02 and not one from a '05 since they are different(I have looked and they are vastly different looking),and tell them to go %$#@ thermselfs because the wheel opening are all the same from '02-'07 and 235/70's will not rub when mounted on OEM rims,otherwise that size of tire would not have come standard on most KJ's.

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

Just got it back from the alignment shop, specs were way off. The alignment machine at the shop where I am having problems was not calibrated properly.Now they have to spend the remainder of the week calling back any customers who had an alignment within the last 6 weeks or so. Serves them right. I think this solved my tire rub!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Apr 02, 2008 5:48 pm

Sounds good.. At least it wasnt an expensive repair.

Now get that axle fixed.

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

I got under there and now the lower control arms are moving inside the engine cradle. I can literally see it moving front to back as the steering wheel is turned. They both do this. This cannot be normal.

<---Front of the engine

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

Check out this video. If you look close you can see the control arm moving. This is while I am turning the wheel.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:32 pm

I cant even tell its moving.

If that bushing is just flexing then its normal.

Guest · **Posted:** Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:11 pm

it's moving front to back

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

Jeepjeepster wrote:

I cant even tell its moving.

If that bushing is just flexing then its normal.

Yeah sorry it is a bad video. The bushing moves from front to back. I am not talking about a little movement, it moves at least an inch either way depending on what way you turn the wheels.

99xjclassic · **Joined:** Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:15 pm **Posts:** 43

The dealership said this is normal. Wow that is sure alot of movement. Can somebody look under there liberty while somebody is turning the wheel to full lock both ways, and look at the lower control arm busings to see if yours moves.
This would help me out, because I am ready to find a liberty in a parking lot and ask someone if I can get under it for a second

Pote · **Posted:** Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:24 pm

99xjclassic wrote:

The dealership said this is normal. Wow that is sure alot of movement. Can somebody look under there liberty while somebody is turning the wheel to full lock both ways, and look at the lower control arm busings to see if yours moves.
This would help me out, because I am ready to find a liberty in a parking lot and ask someone if I can get under it for a second

LOLOL...find a little hottie driving a KJ...great way to break the ice/pickup line...oh wait. Your girlfriend who did the damage might not appreciate that.

Just had my sub-frame replaced, new questions at end!! HELP

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