loose tie rod

Belveder · Apr 28, 2009

I just went to a Speede garage the other day to get my tires rotated and the mechanic mentioned to me that there is tiny bit of play in one tie rod.I was surprised to hear that.The car drives fine,there is no extra wear on the tire,the car doesn't pull to the side and I'm not aware of running across some major pot hole either.Has anybody of you changed their tie rods on the Patriot yet?

I went to the dealer and was told that they would replace the tie rod but would charge me 99$ Canadian for the alignment.Is that the normal practice?I would expect them to fix it without me spending a penny,I'm still covered by the 3 year warranty.

Keeping Fingers Crossed · Apr 28, 2009

Arent tie rods considered part of the normal maintenance items, so they wouldnt be covered?..Kind of like pads...etc?
I mean why would they cover them if someone was hardtrailing and 4 wheel driving to the max. Im sure you wouldnt but how do they know that
I will make sure the dealer checks this out next time I am in for an oil change.

UPKEV · Apr 28, 2009

I just had a tie-rod replaced under warranty and the alignment was covered by the dealer. However, I am in the U.S. and have a fantastic service department. I am not particularly hard on my Jeep either and it is only 15 months old.

In the last three years I have had tie-rod work done on my other car twice as well.

The service department told me they haven't had good luck with tie-rods across the board. Looks like that is possibly a weak area in the Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep family.

I hate to say this, but get used to doing tie-rod work.

Tie-rod replacement isn't normal maintenance.

Hitzy · Apr 28, 2009

I think they are trying to take you for a $99 ride. If it's a procedure that is required as a result of replacement of a warranteed part, it should be covered. You may need to push a bit, but stand your ground, and they should cave. Get them to put it in writing that the alignment is not covered due to a defective tierod....then see what Chrysler Canada has to say.
It can't be too common of a problem as there are no TSB's for it to date.

albo · Apr 28, 2009

Agree with all those above Tie Rod replacement REQUIRES an alignment. They must perform this as part of the replacement process. Do not pay a single peso to them for the alignment. I'd casually mention this to them, throwing in the option to call Jeep Canada (or whatever it's called up north) to check on this procedure.

I've had tons of suspension/steering parts replaced under warranty on prior cars with an alignment always thrown into the total. Never at a cost to me.

tazman900 · Apr 28, 2009

They should cover the whole procedure because of the warenntee work. Don't know if Canada is different but that doesn't sound right.
Rich

Rio2Patriot · Apr 28, 2009

i had my tie rods replaced on my 08 Patriot because they were broken or something, warranty covered it completely (i'm in Ontario, Canada as well)

i went to Cooksville Dodge in Mississauga

phatdilf · Apr 28, 2009

what if you have the rro lift would it still be covered

Hitzy · Apr 28, 2009

phatdilf said:
what if you have the rro lift would it still be covered

The dealer would have to prove the RRO lift was the definitive cause of the tierods failing in order to deny warranty coverage.

furyman67 · Apr 28, 2009

Under Warranty provisions when the tie rod is replaced it covers resetting the toe.
Tom

Belveder · Apr 29, 2009

Thanks for your quick reply.Well,it sounds like there may some some issue with the tie rod then.I just fired off a letter to the dealer so I'll inform you of any change as soon as they reply back to me.
I don;t understand their attitude,the whole North American auto industry is drowning in deep ocean and they still don't get the message fully.And yes,I'm such a supporter of the local work force.I wish to buy products made by our people.But I don't wish to be to judgmental too soon,I'll see what they say.Thanks again.

InfernoPatriot · Apr 29, 2009

I had both my tie rod ends replaced at 62K. DON'T use the Mopar parts as replacement if you are out of warranty. Get MOOG from a jobber, they are greasable and actually cost much less than the Mopar part.

Belveder · Apr 29, 2009

InfernoPatriot said:
I had both my tie rod ends replaced at 62K. DON'T use the Mopar parts as replacement if you are out of warranty. Get MOOG from a jobber, they are greasable and actually cost much less than the Mopar part.

thanks,if the dealer will do it free then I can't choose the part and they'll use MOPAR but if I should do it in the future with my cash then I'll follow your recommendation,thanks

CJs07RIOT · Dec 29, 2009

InfernoPatriot said:
I had both my tie rod ends replaced at 62K. DON'T use the Mopar parts as replacement if you are out of warranty. Get MOOG from a jobber, they are greasable and actually cost much less than the Mopar part.

Do you happen to have the MOOG part number?? I need to replace my tie rods.

todde702 · Dec 30, 2009

According to their parts online catalog. It should be part number ES800408, although it could also be ES3614 which works for the 2004-2008 Pacifica and 2005-07 Town & Country/Caravan. The tie-rod made by Mevotech (Part # MES3614...hmm, looks familiar) covers Patriot/Compass/Caliber/Sebring and the Pacifica/Mini-vans so I would assume the Moog ES3614 would also work. Spicer's part #4011940 interchanges directly to the Moog ES3614.

I think they are behind on updating the online cat though because they don't list a patriot as a choice, so I picked the Compass.

Here's the Moog lookup: http://www.power-21.com/federalmogulpower21i/Application.aspx?pc=Steering

Also: http://www.rockauto.com is useful for looking up part numbers and application.

CJs07RIOT · Dec 30, 2009

Thanks so much my local Jeep dealer has told me it'll be March before they can get the OEM part back in stock, because its back ordered.

InfernoPatriot · Dec 31, 2009

CJs07RIOT said:
Do you happen to have the MOOG part number?? I need to replace my tie rods.

I went back and looked at my records. I ordered these from Rockauto.com. I got parts that came in MOOG boxes, but it was Raybestos I ordered:

RAYBESTOS Part # 4011940 {Professional Grade}
Outer

jnugent56 · Dec 31, 2009

CJs07RIOT said:
Thanks so much my local Jeep dealer has told me it'll be March before they can get the OEM part back in stock, because its back ordered.

Yikes! My dealer found a loose tie rod yesterday as well. My Jeep has 28,000 miles on it, so it's covered under warranty. They needed to order the part... no mention of the back order situation, though. I guess we'll see how it goes...

Harbor · Dec 31, 2009

UPKEV said:
I just had a tie-rod replaced under warranty and the alignment was covered by the dealer. However, I am in the U.S. and have a fantastic service department.

UPKEV - Is your fantastic service dept. O'Connor CJD in Pickford?

UPKEV · Dec 31, 2009

Harbor said:
UPKEV said:

I just had a tie-rod replaced under warranty and the alignment was covered by the dealer. However, I am in the U.S. and have a fantastic service department.

UPKEV - Is your fantastic service dept. O'Connor CJD in Pickford?

Click to expand...

Nope, I am in Upper Most reaches of the U.P. I suppose there could be more than one fantastic service department.

loose tie rod

Belveder

Keeping Fingers Crossed

UPKEV

Hitzy

albo

tazman900

Rio2Patriot

phatdilf

Hitzy

furyman67

Belveder

InfernoPatriot

Belveder

CJs07RIOT

todde702

CJs07RIOT

InfernoPatriot

jnugent56

Harbor

UPKEV

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