Factory recommends Rubicon Express?

[scottjk]

I find this extremely interesting.

I dropped my 05 TJ Unlimited off at the dealership on Tuesday. I am running pure stock but have developed a death wobble (reference the host of other threads on that subject). Got some newer tires from Materdaddy which helped out - but still there when hitting significant bumps at highway speed (or just uneven pavement).

Anyway - these guys have it three days - they are supposed to run brand new tires on it and check. If still there, get it aligned, and check. If still there delve deep into trac bar issues, etc.

I call them on Saturday. Good news, no charge. Bad news is that their solution, "after talking to the factory rep" is to buy and install new, adjustable control arms from RE.

Now, I'm not saying that is not the solution. But I find it hard to believe that Jeep's official answer to a stock issue is after market parts.

Or, to put it another way, "after market parts should not be doing what factory parts should be doing for themselves."

I am going to take it down the hill to Palm Springs for a second opinion.

Alternatively, I'll drive it carefully for another couple of months, and then make it hurt financially and put the 4" Full-Traction LA with new tires that I had been saving for sometime in the next year. I mean, if the answer is after market, why not just do it all at once?

Does anyone else find the dealer's answer a little suspicious or am I an idiot?

Thanks...

[Dukes69]

yeah, that sounds a little odd. Hopefully they're not blowing smoke up your ass.

[scottjk]

Forgotten dealer quote of the day in regards to my suspension and the four days they had at the shop where they did nothing...

"Well it is all pretty complicated...there is a lot of stuff down there."

Thanks for the heads up, guys.

[Materdaddy]

Yikes, it doesn't make sense that any stock parts vs. aftermarket parts would make a difference with DW. If bushings are worn out, stock replacements would work just as well as aftermarket parts. I know you'd be better off going aftermarket (for lift/future plans reasons) if things need replacement, but it seems strange the dealer would suggest that.

I would definitely be leery of that dealer. Most people say that it's alignemnt or track bar issues. I certainly hope it's not the tires/wheels for you! If it is, let me know and I'll mail you a couple bucks to get them re-balanced!

[scottjk]

Materdaddy - nope, not an issue with tires and wheels. I think it is just a lazy dealership who could not be bothered to actually troubleshoot and fix the problem.

You are dead on with solving it...

Tires?
Alignment?
Trac bar?
Steering?
Camber?

Pretty much in that order. I gave them the rig for four days to work through those issues and I'm pretty damned sure the thing never left the lot.

If I had more time, I'd do it myself (my other frustration). Anyway - I've got a plan to get some improvement. If anything, your tires/wheels signficantly reduced the issue.

thanks...

[maddmike]

Forgotten dealer quote of the day in regards to my suspension and the four days they had at the shop where they did nothing...

"Well it is all pretty complicated...there is a lot of stuff down there."

:bonk:

i hate to hijack this thread but i am absolutely laughing my butt off that the dealership actually said that.

what is funniest about this quote is the fact that a TJ has about the LEAST complicated suspension of any of the vehicles they sell.

and, yes, i agree, it is absolutely weird that they would say this.

[Materdaddy]

Good luck and keep us posted! I'd like to see what ends up fixing your case! I'm either paranoid, or starting to feel a very slight shimmy at around 50-55mph. I'm hoping it doesn't start turning into anything even close to DW!

[Materdaddy]

:bonk:

i hate to hijack this thread but i am absolutely laughing my butt off that the dealership actually said that.

what is funniest about this quote is the fact that a TJ has about the LEAST complicated suspension of any of the vehicles they sell.

and, yes, i agree, it is absolutely weird that they would say this.

Haha, yup. A couple arms, shocks, brake lines, a track bar and a drive shaft is all that touches the axle! Soooo much, be careful somebody might pull a brain muscle!!!

[NAILER341]

make them fix it with OEM parts.
after all, they will tell you that your warranty is now void forusing after market suspension parts.
UNLESS you can get the to accept ALL Rubicon Express parts specifically in your warranty. (no exceptions) in writing.
then it would be worth it to do.
besides, RE customer service bites the big one.

[Deamer]

I got to see DW coming toward me on the road the other day. I see a Jeep coming my way and the tires are flipping back and forth like he was yanking the wheel from side to side. He probably scared the heck out of the oncoming cars. Turned out it was a friend of mine. We got his Jeep back home and then after work found out the lower trackbar bolt was loose.

besides, RE customer service bites the big one.

Nailer, so you had a bad experience with RE? I lost a bolt and washer on my swaybar disconnect and RE sent me the whole disconnect kit in like 2 day. No charge.

[NAILER341]

i sagged out one of their leaves in a month, and they told me to go to hell








not really, but they would not replace the spring.

[durango 4x4]

The manufacturer also recommends using Durango4x4 for all your RE needs...well maybe that's not true
But we can get the "good stuff" to you!

[scottjk]

New damper on the steering's drag link - end of problem...

Glad I found someone who could help properly diagnose the problem and come up with a solution. If I'd listened to the "it's complicated down there" morons I'd be out hundreds of dollars for after market LCAs I did not need and would still have the same problem...or maybe they planned it that way?

SJK SENDS

[Materdaddy]

New damper on the steering's drag link - end of problem...

Glad I found someone who could help properly diagnose the problem and come up with a solution. If I'd listened to the "it's complicated down there" morons I'd be out hundreds of dollars for after market LCAs I did not need and would still have the same problem...or maybe they planned it that way?

SJK SENDS

Did yours have oil all over it like my stocker? I knew it was going bad before I did my lift, but didn't really worry about it because I was replacing it with OME when I did the lift!

[scottjk]

Thinking back on it, it didn't. As you know, this was a problem some months in the making (going back to Apr/May). It was not a dramatic failure, but steady...slowly got worse and worse until it became bumps at any speed vice the original highway speeds I first encountered.

Since I am not afraid of the "complicated" parts on the front end I spent some time looking at the various components and the damper never jumped out at me as "hey, look at the hydraulic thingy covered in oil..." So I will stick with "no" - but my thought is that a small, steady, slow leak might not have been all that noticeable.

Or maybe I'm just making myself feel better. Short answer, I did not see anything.

The new one is nice and shiny, though. So I've got that going for me. I also, systematically hit every major pothole in my geographic area to check to see if it was really fixed.

Also - we got rain last night - so while it is 100+ degrees with 5000% humidity - I've covered everything with mud. Which is a good thing.

Oh yes - and a quick edit...the mud icon thing...not my doing...apparently it is automatic. Joy.