| From | Message |
Jeff
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/17/2004
18:04:05
|
 Subject: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
Ok, so i now have an appointment for wednesday (the 18th) for the dealer to look at my truck. ('99 3.9 cc base)
6 months ago they replaced my upper control arm bushings. I was recently under my truck and noticed all the lower control arm bushings are bad too.
Why they didn't notice this then I don't know. Why they haven't noticed this since then during various servicings I don't know.
I told the service advisor that I feel they should pay for the lower bushing repair, as my ext warranty deductible paid for the uppers should have included the lowers, and any other related problems needing fixing at the time. Just because they didn't look at the rest of the bushings isn't my fault, and I shouldn't have to pay for it, again. They should have done a more thorough job.
They are a 5-star dealer, they should act like it.
Service advisor told me that he'd have to talk to management about the payment, and I told him I agree, whatever he needs to do to fix this at no cost to me.
I will update you tomorrow on what happens after they inspect the truck for themselves.
Looking forward to having the opportunity to vent my frustrations (politely, yet firmly) to the service manager.
Luckily, my new tires are still in good shape, the lower bushing deficiency hasn't dstroyed them yet. (bad camber can be a b!tch)
Here's a link to the photos of my lower bushings:
Photos here.
Jeff
|
black97
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/17/2004
20:53:44
|  RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
Is it possible to replace these yourself? Im guessing the stealer would want over 1000 to do it just like ball joints. Any input would be appreciated.
|
Jeff
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/17/2004
20:57:33
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
just like the ball joints, some special tools are needed.
my extended warranty covers it, otherwise it would run around $400 (what i was quoted for the uppers)
|
brianl
GenIII
2/18/2004
14:41:40
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
I replaced all of mine with Prothane bushings. I didn't need any special tools. Just a bunch of drill bits that act as endmills! :)
Brian
Dynomax UltraFlo, V8 TB, Alpine 6-disc, 180 T-Stat, PA 3" Lift, Prothane bushings, Autolite 3923, homemade intake, Rancho RS9000, Tonneau, Herculiner Sprayed-In, 33" Dueler A/T, AR Baja 16x8 Wheels, MOOG Balljoints and Ties, Powerslots w/ Raybestos PG pads
|
Jeff
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/18/2004
20:01:29
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
dealer dude called me today.
they say that the lower deterioration must have happened in the 6months/5k miles since the uppers were fixed, and i will have to pay my deductible to get the lowers fixed.
i say bullshlt.
but, i can either sue em, or pay my $100 deductible, so i think i'll pay. (but still bitch and moan)
and i might contact daimler-chrysler about this dealer's 5-star rating, and give em my current opinion of that rating.
jeff
|
disaster
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/19/2004
13:02:49
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
sorry to hear that you dealer is maximizing his income on your truck.
unfortunately the 5-star rating doesn't mean what chysler would have you believe. the 5 star has to do with how much the dealer does in sales, not customer satisfaction. 5 star just means he extorts more money from his customers than non 5 star dealers. its unfortunate but that's the way it is. if the dealers were rated on customer satisfaction they'd all be 1000s of stars in the hole.
|
Dakup
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/19/2004
13:11:30
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
What sort of problems did you see as a result of these bushings being bad?
|
Jeff
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/19/2004
15:09:04
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
dakup - bad bushings will allow the control arms and the wheels attached to them to be misaligned, unevenly wearing your tires.
|
Jeff
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/19/2004
18:40:06
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
ok, talked to the tech.
says the lower control arm bushings won't affect alignment, only the uppers will, and my lowers aren't anywhere near needing to be replaced, but they're gonna go ahead and to it as a courtesy to me because I wanted it done.
they also happened to notice that my upper ball joint jacket (?, shroud?, something like that) is cracked and they are going to replace the upper ball joints.
could that have happened in the 6 months since they worked on my suspension last?
now i have to wait till tuesday for the ball joints to get here from milwaukee.
i think they're all a bunch of azzholes. or am i out of line here and the tech is right?
jeff
|
Grant
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/20/2004
11:19:30
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
Hey brianl
where did you get your poly bushings from?? how much were they. have there been any problems with them or had any squeaks?? I heard you had to use the original metal fittings off the rubber ones, was that true??
|
Camera
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/20/2004
11:42:42
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
Wow.. nice camera you got to take those close up Pictures...what kind of Camera is it?
|
Birdinator
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/20/2004
13:05:19
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
Sorry, I don't bye what the dealer is telling you about the lower conrol arm bushings going bad 6 months later unless you really beat the hell out of the truck.(Off Roading/ Exstream heat/cold conditions along with road grime from salt and sand) Those bushings where bad IMO the first time you brought the truck in.
Rob
|
Mikey
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/20/2004
15:42:40
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
Grant:
I just did all the ball joints and bushings on my '99 2wd using Moogs (from rockauto.com)and Energy Suspension bushings (from truckperformance.com). Took about 6 hrs including drilling out all the rivets.
For the upper bushings, you have to dig out the old rubber ones (not too hard) and reuse the shell. I drilled a bunch of holes through the rubber and pried the chunks out with a pick.
The lower ones come complete with shell and need to be pressed out/in with a hydraulic press. Find a machine shop to press the lower bushings.
BTW, you'll need a coil spring compressor and other stuff, too.
|
Jeff
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/29/2004
00:17:18
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
finally got the work done, got my truck back.
on the service reciept they wrote that the front tires are cupped, and that i should rotate them every 3k miles.
first of all, i religiously rotate and balance my tires every 3k miles. second, isn't cupping caused by bad shocks/struts? could bad lower control arm bushings or bad upper ball joints be the cause of the cupping?
thanks,
jeff
|
DrewzR/T
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/26/2004
21:41:59
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
I know this is a month old but I think I need some upper because I can actually break peices off mine and I think thats what is causing my sloppy steering over bumps because Ive changed just about everything else.
Truckperformance says these arent for R/T's why not. Whats the difference in the control arms anybody know?
|
actually
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/27/2004
06:14:51
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
the lower control arm bushings most certainly will affect your alignment both toe in and camber,just as much as the uppers do. if it did not, there would not only be no bushings but no lower control arm.
when you get a front end alignment the alignment tech adjusts both the upper and lower control arm mountings to align the wheels, so it stands to reason that the lowers have an awfull lot to do with it.
|
Silverwater
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
9/22/2004
16:19:20
|  RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
Does anybody that has a 2000 QC 4x4 know which company has control arm bushings for sale? The only place I found is eshocks.com but they sell prothane and when I went to the prothane site, they didn't even have a listing for my truck. My bushings are shot and I don't want to replace the entire control arm over some bushings.
|
CS
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/07/2004
23:19:17
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
I cannot find anywhere to purchase poly bushings. Energy Suspension lists them for a Dakota but they do not list their retailers. Prothane does not list a set for the Dak. For those of you who have done this, where did you get yours??? I think more than a few of us would like to know.
Oh, yeah, is it just me or do all the seals and hoses on a '99 have to be replaced near 100,000?
I've replaced:
-pwr steering hose, seals
-heater hoses
-water pump seals,
-rear trans seal
...and need to replace
-control arm bushings
-sway bar bushings
-trans mount
|
Tony
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/08/2004
17:45:32
| RE: bushings, problems, pics
IP: Logged
Message:
SUMMIT RACING
I just got my poly bushings from summit 2-3 weeks ago. $68 for upper/lower control arms on my 99 CC 4x4. The name on it was PROTHANE.
They were special order & took 2 weeks to get.
This was the same with a few other suspension
companies out there.
|
| | P 1 |
|
Post a reply to this message:
Username Registration: Optional
All visitors are allowed to post messages
|
