Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
TSkoropad
TDR MEMBER
Greetings all,
Looking for some opinions and experiences with premature ball joint failures.
Vehicle background.
2011.5 2500HD 4x4 Crew
Total mileage 64540kms
This is not a hard driven vehicle. The odd tow/haul, mostly city, highway mileage.
Routine maintenance, including yearly wheel alignments.
No lift, or over-size tires/wheels.
Tire pressures checked religiously.
No added weight bumpers, campers etc.
The only suspension modifications Bilstein 5100 shocks & steering damper.
Vehicle has never experienced any abnormal tire wear.
Now the story.
A year ago I went to the dealer for routine service including a wheel alignment.
Mileage at the time 55568kms
I get a call from the service depart stating that they could not perform the alignment because the technician found excessive play in the lower and upper ball joints, and drag link inner and outer joints. (the vehicle exhibited no symptoms) Therefore replacement would be required, (thankfully I'd purchased an additional 5 years of warranty) which covered the almost $2k bill less $100 deductible. They did mange somehow manage to destroy one rotor and hub assembly during the R & R.
That said, work was completed, alignment then done, and I was finally on my way after 4 days in the shop.
Fast forward to today.
Mileage now at 64540kms.
I drop the vehicle off for it's routine service including wheel alignment...
And I get the phone call. Alignment can't be performed because the technician determined excessive play in the upper and lower ball joints and drag link inner outer joints. "WHAT!" I say. "I just had this same service performed 8972kms ago." Service writer didn't think to check past service records so he had an almost $2k estimate ready. Nor did he know that the vehicle still has 2 years of warranty left. I told him to check the records, which he did, noticing the recent work. He then stated the parts that were replaced a year ago were Mopar OEM, so therefore carried a 2 year replacement warranty.
So, of course they don't have the parts parts in stock, so I'm now re-booked for repair next Wednesday.
Of course this is the American Axle assembly, my 94 V-10 2500HD had the Dana 60, and when sold had 170000kms on the clock, on the the original ball joints (It passed safety with flying colours).
Just looking for some opinions/thought/experiences from those familiar with the 3rd and 4th the gen front ends.
Thanks in advance.
Tom
Thunder Bay ON CA
Looking for some opinions and experiences with premature ball joint failures.
Vehicle background.
2011.5 2500HD 4x4 Crew
Total mileage 64540kms
This is not a hard driven vehicle. The odd tow/haul, mostly city, highway mileage.
Routine maintenance, including yearly wheel alignments.
No lift, or over-size tires/wheels.
Tire pressures checked religiously.
No added weight bumpers, campers etc.
The only suspension modifications Bilstein 5100 shocks & steering damper.
Vehicle has never experienced any abnormal tire wear.
Now the story.
A year ago I went to the dealer for routine service including a wheel alignment.
Mileage at the time 55568kms
I get a call from the service depart stating that they could not perform the alignment because the technician found excessive play in the lower and upper ball joints, and drag link inner and outer joints. (the vehicle exhibited no symptoms) Therefore replacement would be required, (thankfully I'd purchased an additional 5 years of warranty) which covered the almost $2k bill less $100 deductible. They did mange somehow manage to destroy one rotor and hub assembly during the R & R.
That said, work was completed, alignment then done, and I was finally on my way after 4 days in the shop.
Fast forward to today.
Mileage now at 64540kms.
I drop the vehicle off for it's routine service including wheel alignment...
And I get the phone call. Alignment can't be performed because the technician determined excessive play in the upper and lower ball joints and drag link inner outer joints. "WHAT!" I say. "I just had this same service performed 8972kms ago." Service writer didn't think to check past service records so he had an almost $2k estimate ready. Nor did he know that the vehicle still has 2 years of warranty left. I told him to check the records, which he did, noticing the recent work. He then stated the parts that were replaced a year ago were Mopar OEM, so therefore carried a 2 year replacement warranty.
So, of course they don't have the parts parts in stock, so I'm now re-booked for repair next Wednesday.
Of course this is the American Axle assembly, my 94 V-10 2500HD had the Dana 60, and when sold had 170000kms on the clock, on the the original ball joints (It passed safety with flying colours).
Just looking for some opinions/thought/experiences from those familiar with the 3rd and 4th the gen front ends.
Thanks in advance.
Tom
Thunder Bay ON CA
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