FL RENNY wrote:
All I know is the dealer said the front diff was comming seperated from the front axle. I forgot the work order in my jeep again out in the parking lot. Whether it would have cost $3000 or not I truly have no idea..I know they replaced drive shafts, and took the front diff apart.....thats just what the dealer said. It took them a while to figure it out he said that there was no play in moving it up and down, but when they moved it side to side they realized what was up? After thinking about it, I'm thinking it might have happened when I bottomed out really hard on the beach a while ago. I SLAMMMMMMMMED the front end on some hard packed sand doing about 25mph. But I have the engine skid (it's a RENNY) so I dont know how something like that could have happened. But that's the only thing I can think of. Either way, if it was lifted, non lifted it needed fixing. His exact words were "if you would have replaced the hardware (springs, etc) and put any lift on other than the spacer type lift, we would be voiding the warranty." So maybe any tupe of spacer lift would be ok by that explanation?
So in summary, because the lift you had somehow didn't cause the dealer to void your warranty, you were able to get an unrelated repair covered. According to that dealer, another spacer lift would probably also be acceptable.
I think your case is rare, however. Dealerships tend to be either lift-friendly or lift-unfriendly, and not very specific in between. Legally, the only thing different betwen a spacer lift and a coil lift is that the dealership does not have to cover a problem with the coil or the strut in a coil lift, but that is because those parts are not factory (as in, the dealership will not order and pay for a replacement OME shock for you). The CV angles and suspension geometry (among other changes) are all still the same between the two, and those are the more serious differences between lifted and non-lifted
I would not suggest that anyone go for a spacer lift based on this advice without first talking to your dealership. Typically, a coil lift will be BETTER for the jeeps wear and tear, since it is made for the purpose and not just making it taller. The frankenlift for example comes with bumpstops for the A arms as well as longer bumpstops for the rear. Adding a spacer without lengthening the shock/strut or moving the bumpstop will cause it to top out faster, damaging it.
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Jeff 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade
4x4, 6spd, Leather, Sunroof, trak-loc, skids/rails, hitch+shackle, hooks, Alpine/iPod, Thule, GPS, CB, Frankenlifted w/ 31" MTRs
Photos Cardomain