Passenger side U Joint Broke

[dajudge]

I assume it must have been defective. Jeep has 21K on it and it came apart while the wife was going to or from work Monday. (of course she didn't notice anything) I got in it to go to work Tuesday morning and it was thunk-thunk-thunk. It was dark and I needed to run to work so I put it back in the garage and took the XJ. (which had been sitting for 2 months and started instantly like it always does) Things break but the dealer couldn't care less. The soonest they can get it in is the 27 and I have to arrange to have it towed. Yet another reason to hate dealers.

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[AlphaMaximus]

Its unfortunate that the timing is not flexible. Hopefully the dealer can fix the issue promptly once they get to it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Things break but the dealer couldn't care less. The soonest they can get it in is the 27 and I have to arrange to have it towed. Yet another reason to hate dealers.

Why? Why is that a reason to hate dealers? All shops are backed up. It's how it is. (well, the crap shops can get you right in, not the good shops)
I had to wait 6 f'n weeks to get in to a doctor to arrange a test. Then another 4-5 weeks to go back in and talk about the test. In the mean time, there are days I can barely walk and working in my shop is a NO. But a dealer sucks over 2 weeks to get in.
We had to wait 4 weeks to get our JLU in, then another month to get it back. They are swamped.
There's a lot of people out there with broken stuff, vehicles that they can't drive. You aren't alone.
My sales guy told me when I was finally able to get our JLU in that they had "almost 100 vehicles parked around back waiting for parts".
Imagine - 100 vehicles where people needed them, and certainly there weren't 100 loaners available.
A month later when I picked up the JLU he said things were moving a bit better - they were now getting a pallet of parts every couple of days instead of 3 or 4 parts a day.

What you are experiencing doesn't mean the dealer doesn't care - it means you are just one person out of many - and some are worse off than you. Some have 1 vehicle to rely on and can't even afford to rent one - if they could find one.
Think a bit - for every problem you have, many have it far worse and are waiting a lot longer.
If I was told 2 to 3 weeks for anything, I'd be shouting YAY!!

Over two months for our JLU.
A month to get in for the misfire on my JT a year ago.

Sorry, but I just can't relate, going through what I've been going through, and seeing things a lot worse in the vehicle area than what you are experiencing.
What do you want, the to knock someone who has been waiting for 2 or 3 weeks or more off the list to get you in first?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Its unfortunate that the timing is not flexible. Hopefully the dealer can fix the issue promptly once they get to it.

There are still parts delays, and as far as being "unfortunate tha the timing is not flexible" - what about those who have already been waiting and have worse problems?

Good thing some don't live in other areas where it's a 4 to 6 week to get in to "look at it".
And it's that bad for doctors.

 

[dajudge]

Why? Why is that a reason to hate dealers? All shops are backed up. It's how it is. (well, the crap shops can get you right in, not the good shops)
I had to wait 6 f'n weeks to get in to a doctor to arrange a test. Then another 4-5 weeks to go back in and talk about the test. In the mean time, there are days I can barely walk and working in my shop is a NO. But a dealer sucks over 2 weeks to get in.
We had to wait 4 weeks to get our JLU in, then another month to get it back. They are swamped.
There's a lot of people out there with broken stuff, vehicles that they can't drive. You aren't alone.
My sales guy told me when I was finally able to get our JLU in that they had "almost 100 vehicles parked around back waiting for parts".
Imagine - 100 vehicles where people needed them, and certainly there weren't 100 loaners available.
A month later when I picked up the JLU he said things were moving a bit better - they were now getting a pallet of parts every couple of days instead of 3 or 4 parts a day.

What you are experiencing doesn't mean the dealer doesn't care - it means you are just one person out of many - and some are worse off than you. Some have 1 vehicle to rely on and can't even afford to rent one - if they could find one.
Think a bit - for every problem you have, many have it far worse and are waiting a lot longer.
If I was told 2 to 3 weeks for anything, I'd be shouting YAY!!

Over two months for our JLU.
A month to get in for the misfire on my JT a year ago.

Sorry, but I just can't relate, going through what I've been going through, and seeing things a lot worse in the vehicle area than what you are experiencing.
What do you want, the to knock someone who has been waiting for 2 or 3 weeks or more off the list to get you in first?

You weren't the one on the phone with them. Couldn't have cared less. ALL of the dealers in Albuquerque suck and are thieves. That's why me, my coworkers, and most of my friends go elsewhere to buy vehicles. I have not had ONE positive interaction with a dealer here. And that is Jeep/Dodge, Pontiac, Buick, Subaru, Honda, Toyota (especially these ass hats), and Chevrolet.
I don't expect them to bump anyone, but at least they could have offered to try and squeeze it in or maybe offered me something to drive? They have a BUNCH of vehicles just like mine sitting around on the lot. Or even pretend to care at all.
Also, the power train warranty is supposed to include towing, but they told me I was on my own there as well. I shouldn't have to call Jeep Cares every time I need something fixed. You are entitled to your opinions, but DEALERS SUCK, almost universally, has been my experience! Here and in Florida. And in NM and many other states their existence is protected by state law so they can treat you however they want. It is even worse here because LHM owns most dealers in town.

But as it turns out, it doesn't matter. I am taking the opportunity to upgrade before I have to do this again with the left side.(or again with the right)

Comments below not related to opinions about dealers:
I feel your pain with the doctors. Having the same issue trying to get in to see a specialist. It's crazy, even my GP is amazed how long it is taking. Hopefully they will get your situation figured out soon.

 

[kauffmj1]

You beat me to the punch on everything being like that. I could call on death's door and my doctor won't be able to see me for 6 weeks. My Ram needed a simple ECM update for a recall and it was a 6 week wait. Thankfully it wasn't anything that required me not to drive it. Sadly, insanely long waits and crappy service seem to be a sign of the times.

If you are at all handy, replacing a u-joint isn't super tough. Lots of YouTube videos out there on doing it. I've done several on my JKU over the years and I'm no mechanic.

They are sort of a wear and tear item, so don't be shocked if they push back on warranty replacement even with 21k on the odometer. Not saying that is right or fair, but be prepared.

 

[dajudge]

You beat me to the punch on everything being like that. I could call on death's door and my doctor won't be able to see me for 6 weeks. My Ram needed a simple ECM update for a recall and it was a 6 week wait. Thankfully it wasn't anything that required me not to drive it. Sadly, insanely long waits and crappy service seem to be a sign of the times.

If you are at all handy, replacing a u-joint isn't super tough. Lots of YouTube videos out there on doing it. I've done several on my JKU over the years and I'm no mechanic.

They are sort of a wear and tear item, so don't be shocked if they push back on warranty replacement even with 21k on the odometer. Not saying that is right or fair, but be prepared.

I fully expected them to try and push back but they are on the drive train warranty, actually named on it as a covered item.
I decided to view this as an opportunity to upgrade so I am going to fix it myself.
Ordered:
Reid JL001L, JL001R
TeraFlex HD Ball Joints (mostly for the snap ring)
Dana Spicer 10044459 shafts

 

[kauffmj1]

I fully expected them to try and push back but they are on the drive train warranty, actually named on it as a covered item.
I decided to view this as an opportunity to upgrade so I am going to fix it myself.
Ordered:
Reid JL001L, JL001R
TeraFlex HD Ball Joints (mostly for the snap ring)
Dana Spicer 10044459 shafts

I'd say that's a good way to make lemonade out of lemons.

I usually try my best to stay away from dealers unless its something I absolutely can't do on my own or is a recall. I agree with you it should be covered, but we could probably make a laundry list of things dealers/ Stellantis should cover or help with that they don't.

 

[Walldo]

Have to agree, LHM kinda sucks!! Over priced and the only dealers in town. For awhile you could at least order from Mopar estore and pick up at LHM Casa, not any more. Guess they weren't making enough on mark up.

 

[dajudge]

Passenger side haas been disassembled. New shafts have 1410 U joints.
Good thing I bought ball joints because they were done. Also the steering is worn, I will have to do something about that.
I think stellantis needs to rethink their specs. How can it take less use than the D30 in my XJ? And yes I know the Gladiator is a lot heavier, but it is supposed to be a much heavier duty axle.

Oh well. I still love it and it is worth upgrading!

Taking a break for now. My back has demanded it. Having a messed up back sucks!

 

[dajudge]

Ball joints installed

 

[dajudge]

Ran into a problem. The axle shafts I bought do not work with the FAD. Dana Spicer lists two different parts numbers. One is labled with FAD Delete. The other is not. However the axle shafts are the same with each part number. The "with FAD delete" ones come with a coupler, cover, bolts and a snap ring that connects the inner to the inner-inner and doesn't unlock. The other one is just the shafts but is useless without the coupler, etc. Their website doesn't mention any of this. I found a right up on a different forum that someone had the new ones machined so they would work. Wish I would have found that BEFORE I bought them. Thanks DANA Spicer, your website sucks.
Waiting to hear back from Jeremy about what can be done. (this is in no way his fault)
I should have never tried to keep the FAD.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

You aren't still under your bumper to bumper with a '22 truck at 21,000 miles?

 

[dajudge]

You aren't still under your bumper to bumper with a '22 truck at 21,000 miles?

I am, but was taking it as an opportunity to upgrade.

 

[dajudge]

Finally got it back together:
-Dana Spicer Advantek axle shafts with 1410 u-joints (their site says 1350 but they are 1410)
FAD is still working just fine - there is a plastic instert in the inner-inner shaft that has to be removed so the larger machined nipple on the new shaft will slide in. Mine also had a bunch of grease mixed with gunk that I had to clean out. (this is why it wasn't fitting together properly)
-Top ball joints are Teraflex (I really wanted the snap ring so it can't pull out)
-bottom ball joints are synergy (teraflex ones have two bulges sticking up that the zerks screw into. the 1410 u-joints hit these castings)
-Reid knuckles
-also replaced hubs ( i will keep the old ones as emergency spares)
Took it for a test drive and a spin in the desert and all is well.



Plastic insert:

Teraflex Ball joint with casting "bumps":

Completed:

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