LBJ Recall = Alignment?

Littlehorn · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 11:44 am

Well, I had my LBJ recall performed. I did not receive a letter from DC about the recall (nor did a co-worker for her '03), but I waited and waited. I did call to set an appointment.

When I dropped it off my LibRen the service rep assured me that an alignment was not needed and would not be done. It wasn't done and now I see some feathering and shredding... I had a service manual but forgot to check it before I dropped it off for the recall. I checked the 2004-2005 Liberty Service Manual today for any mention and sure enough....The last step in the LBJ replacement process is "(10) Perform a wheel alignment" ...

They will hear from me today!

Has anyone else been told they did not need an alignment after the LBJ recall?

Chris

PS - Dealership: Ron Carter Autoland in Alvin, Texas

1300ZUK · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:14 pm

yes the recall doesn't cover an alignment, i am not saying that replacing ball joints won't mess up your alignment, but they figure that the car is aligned well when they put on the replacements and it won't change the alignment enough to worry about. alignments are part of general maintenance on a car, and i can see why they aren't covered under the recall, but yet on the same token i think they should be at least checked after the ball joints are installed.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:51 pm

Generally when you replace the the LBJ's there isn't a need to adjust any of the suspension settings. When I got new tires put on my Liberty (after the recall) I had the alignment checked just in case and sure enough it was still within the factory specifications.

How many miles did you drive on the new LBJ's before noticing your problems? Are you 100% positve the problem wasn't there before the recall?

Littlehorn · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:15 pm

sleeve84028 "Generally when you replace the the LBJ's there isn't a need to adjust any of the suspension settings."

Then why would the Jeep Liberty Service Manual say that an alignment is the last thing to perform in the LBJ replacement procedure?

Yes, I'm sure the wear was not like that before the recall was performed. I check these things every week because when I bought the Liberty new the alignment was out. I had it checked at a different dealership and they verified that it was out and then aligned it properly. I had no uneven wear after that. 1 1/2 years later the recall was performed and now...3 weeks since (can't check the miles since, right now. approx. 350 miles) and I have wear.

I called DC today and they said that... "the new LBJs are pre-aligned from the factory and do not affect the alignment when installed".

So, either they do or there was something messed with while the replacement was taking place.

The dealership is over 25 miles away.

Chris

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:29 pm

Littlehorn wrote:

sleeve84028 "Generally when you replace the the LBJ's there isn't a need to adjust any of the suspension settings."

Then why would the Jeep Liberty Service Manual say that an alignment is the last thing to perform in the LBJ replacement procedure?

Yes, I'm sure the wear was not like that before the recall was performed. I check these things every week because when I bought the Liberty new the alignment was out. I had it checked at a different dealership and they verified that it was out and then aligned it properly. I had no uneven wear after that. 1 1/2 years later the recall was performed and now...3 weeks since (can't check the miles since, right now. approx. 350 miles) and I have wear.

I called DC today and they said that... "the new LBJs are pre-aligned from the factory and do not affect the alignment when installed".

So, either they do or there was something messed with while the replacement was taking place.

The dealership is over 25 miles away.

Chris

"pre-aligned" the LBJ's,that person is smoking alot of crack!The alignment is a cost issue since DCX had to replace some 800,000+ sets of LBJ's and some of them have been 2 or 3 times,so your talking about at least 1.5 million replaced LBJ's(about $300-$350 per set w/ labor),DCX can't afford the alignment since the little bit off some vehicles will be after the recall is not a "safety issue".I Don't think your gonna win but you might get lucky though since the recall does not state a alignment is covered to.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 7:23 pm

ball joints are pre-aligned????? - they need to patent that.... it'll make a lot of money - to heck with this physics, mechanics stuff........

CATCRD · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 8:49 pm

I put Moogs in myself and didn't notice alignment issues until I took it out on the interstate. On straight smooth pavement the steering wheel hunts from side to side. Not enough that it will take you out of the lane if you take your hands off the wheel, just enough to feel a side to side torque on your hands every second or two. Almost like there is now zero toe. I'm going to take it to a shop and get it checked.

Do Libbys have anything other than toe adjustment up front?

myjeepwalks · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:23 pm

I had me recall on my 02' done twice. They refused to align it both times unless i paid. Technically changing the ball joints wont change the alingment since they are not removing the lower control arm. Although i am noticing some feathering of my left front tire now.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:43 pm

CATCRD wrote:

I put Moogs in myself and didn't notice alignment issues until I took it out on the interstate. On straight smooth pavement the steering wheel hunts from side to side. Not enough that it will take you out of the lane if you take your hands off the wheel, just enough to feel a side to side torque on your hands every second or two. Almost like there is now zero toe. I'm going to take it to a shop and get it checked.

Do Libbys have anything other than toe adjustment up front?

You can adjust the toe,camber,and caster in the front,the rear is fixed and nonadjustable.

swyszomirski · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2005 2:59 am **Posts:** 286

I got the same story, that new LBJ's won't change the alignment, but I had the KJ aligned a week before the recall and a week after, and it was really screwed up after the new LBJ's, so screwed up that when I would turn the wheel, the sway bar would get pulled from side to side and make a horrible sound. I have a lifetime alingment from Bridgestone, so I didn't fight with the dealer, but I would like to show them the paper work to prove them wrong. But I would be probably wasting my breath... :evil:

Sport · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:42 am

I am dealing with the same bull myself right now. It is pulling hard to the right after the recall.

Endurance · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2007 3:04 pm

OMG

Same here. I got my LBJ done and when I drove it home it felt like it was out of alignment. I went back the day after and told them about it.

The SW: "Sir, the LBJ recall has nothing to do with your alignment. You probably have bad tires."

Well after getting an alignment and new tires it didnt pull anymore. But I still believe to this day they messed up the alignment!!

Littlehorn · **Posted:** Wed Apr 04, 2007 11:24 am

Sure... Should we band together, again? This is the same old bull American Corporations try to pull to save a buck.

This is like recalling the wheels but charging to remount the tires!

The joke is on us folks! How many people are just going to buy more tires every year instead of getting an alignment?

Chris

Dutchy · **Posted:** Fri Apr 06, 2007 5:16 am

Same here, I always check my BF Goodrich tyres for ware and they where perfect for 35.000 Miles but after the ball joint recall the front ones started to ware uneven within 5000 Miles, the inside of both tyres where being eaten up.
My tyre specialist had a look and re aligned the front end, he also told me that this always should be done after changing ball joints and he was surprised that the dealer did not do this.

Littlehorn · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:14 am

They performed an alignment for free! I had to twist arms and pulled teeth a little. The previous documented alignment was provided by the other dealership. They even provided an alignment diagram with before and after measurements. I wil post that later. It was out quit a bit.

Chris

Phadeout · **Posted:** Mon Apr 23, 2007 1:07 pm

I just bought an '03 Renegade recently (thank you LOST for helping me make a decision!).

It had the LBJ recall done a few months ago. I found the KJ pulled to the Right really bad. Asked if it had an alignment after the LBJs. They said the system doesn't show anything on an alignment being done. So as part of my purchase deal I had them do an alignment for free. After that, it seemed to be better, only pulls according to the slope in the road now. Before it would pull me out of the left lane (sloped to the left) and into the right within 3-4 seconds of not correcting the vehicle. Now if I'm in the left lane, it will pull the left according to the slope in the road...

Havn't driven the new KJ much, doing the Tranny, Diffs, and T-Case fluids right now, and have to sell my '98 RAM...

LBJ Recall = Alignment?

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