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I will highlight each pic and give my professional opinion as I would state in court as an expert witness on suspension design.
Driver lower ball joint
1st picture shows the nut and threads have the same aging as the rest of the underbody, this is road grime as I would expect to find on a part that has been in place for a long period of time, a new balljoint would have clean threads and a brand new nut and cotter pin, this ball joint has not been replaced recently, 100% Certainly not in the last 3000 miles.
the bottom circle shows the zerk fitting, close examination shows road grime in a small grooves, this one has been wiped clean and then used to grease the ball joint. 100% certain this is not a new ball joint.
and finally the boot.
the boot is a faded black and shows considerable road grime with clean grease oozing out of the seal as is common with a old ball joint that has recently been greased. Note the fresh grease also on the zerk, if had not been done recently the grease would be covered in dirt.
100% this is not a new ball joint.
every indicator in this pic shows a old ball joint that has been recently greased.
Zerk is covered in greese Which has attracted a considerable amount of road grime.
not only is this a old ball joint it does not appear to have been greased recently.
another clear view of old road grime compleatly covering the Zerk.
also the bottom of the ball joint shell coated in road grime that takes considerable time to accumulate, I would say this ball joint has been in place for several years.
lower ball joint.
nut shows ageing consistent with the rest of the underbody indicating they have has in place for years.
a new ball joints comes with new nuts and cotter pins, both of these are not new.
The rest of the ball joints coloration shows the same aging indicating it has been in place for a considerable amount of time, likely years but without any doubt has not been replaced in the last 3000 miles or the last year. No way no how.
Can’t thank you enough for your time. Work performed by a reputable company with many shops here. Maybe they just got too busy but my fears confirmed that work wasn’t done. I’ll post my results after tomorrow
Might I ask your qualifications to know all this? Experience, mechanic, both? Not doubting just asking so when I go in and show photos I can say these were verified by an individual that has been a mechanic, etc. So I can have proper info to back up my concern
Can’t thank you enough for your time. Work performed by a reputable company with many shops here. Maybe they just got too busy but my fears confirmed that work wasn’t done. I’ll post my results after tomorrow
If they are a reputable shop they will fix it, if not the first step is to file a complaint at your states BAR which is the Bureau of Automotive Repair. If that doesn’t get it resolved then sue them in small claims court.
A junior line tech could testify to the condition of your ball joints, the evidence is clear and strong that your BJ have not been recently replaced.
well, fabricator and suspension in same sentence is all I need to know. I’ll let you know the outcome
I would say engineer but I do not have a college degree to back it up, however in my career designing,building, testing and racing I have worked with engineers from most of the OEM including Spicer ( who made your axle and ball joints ) who pay me to educate their company engineers on what I know based on my experience.
So went to company website and owner has a contact email listed and wants to know good and bad related to his business. Got a call shortly thereafter from his area manager over all the local stores. Sent him some of the photos and he has requested I call him before I get to the shop so he can meet me there. Wants to make sure I don’t have to wait in line and my truck is a priority. Thing is after going over and thinking about my experience, I told the mechanic I was going to Disney, bout a 6 hour drive with my family. ONE WAY. He stated no way he would make that drive with truck in that condition. But they DID. Still, maybe an oversight but we’ll see what happens Monday morning
Sounds to me like the area manager already had his suspicions with that store, me thinks this incident is the proof he has been waiting for to catch them in the act. at least that is my hunch.
If you were invoiced and paid for 4 ball joint R@R which is remove and replace at a cost of $800 bucks that clearly wasn’t done and me thinks the mechanic and service writer are in on the scam. Lord knows this wouldn’t be the first time a double of dim wits have tried this.
Good luck when you take it in and if it isn’t going your way just leave and pursue it legally, no matter what do not let them convince you those have been replaced, zero chance that is true. Also be carful signing anything regarding a settlement or at least carefully consider the offer, ( only way I would agree to sign away my right to sue them would be if they fix it on the spot and maybe even offered a refund of 1/2 for the hassle and worry. )
also, Try and get them to use Spicer parts and not Moog. ( ya were dreamin now but hey... lol )
Sounds to me like the area manager already had his suspicions with that store, me thinks this incident is the proof he has been waiting for to catch them in the act. at least that is my hunch.
If you were invoiced and paid for 4 ball joint R@R which is remove and replace at a cost of $800 bucks that clearly wasn’t done and me thinks the mechanic and service writer are in on the scam. Lord knows this wouldn’t be the first time a double of dim wits have tried this.
Good luck when you take it in and if it isn’t going your way just leave and pursue it legally, no matter what do not let them convince you those have been replaced, zero chance that is true. Also be carful signing anything regarding a settlement or at least carefully consider the offer, ( only way I would agree to sign away my right to sue them would be if they fix it on the spot and maybe even offered a refund of 1/2 for the hassle and worry. )
also, Try and get them to use Spicer parts and not Moog. ( ya were dreamin now but hey... lol )
Well, nothing like eating crow. Good thing I didn’t roll in making accusations. Took tires off and showed me the new bolts, moog label and scratch mark on very top where camber or caster adjustment is made. Greased everything, rechecked alignment and rotated tires. Still feels tight but he states with new parts it will.
