anyone here work for 4wheel parts? Or know anyone that does?

[tony1307]

:evil:

Hey all....

I am so frickin mad at those guys right now I could scream. Well, I have bronchitis so i won't.

August 28 of 2003 I took my 94 Ranger there for a 6" superlift, and I opted for the SuperRunner steering package. That was supposed to be heavy duty tie rods, and mounted lower to avoid bump steer. Well, a week goes by and I take it back because the sway bar had moved cuz it was not tightened properly. I return two more times with a loose driver's side front shock. Then, I return with a BROKEN driver's side front shock. Over the next few mnths I return two more times with a loose driver's side front shock. The steering has gotten really squirrely lately, so when I changed the oil last week, we checked some things out. Yep, driver's side shock is loose. AND..... both outer tie rod ends are shot to hell. Massive play in both of them. So I call up 4wheel parts and explain what I found. 3 hours later they call me back. tell me the parts are a week out, and they will warranty the parts, but not the labor. I might have been ok with this if it were the only thing that had happened, but this will be the 7th time in 11 months I have had to take my truck back to them.
What should I do? I feel that they should eat the labor, or let me put the damn things on, and they can realign it free.

What would you do?

[clavos]

That is really kind of a grey area. It would depend alot on how long ago it was that they last touched your truck. Usually with after market parts, warranty only covers the parts and not the labor. If the parts are worn from improper installation, then they should be responsible for the labor to install the new parts correctly. Just my two cents.

[Tray]

I'd say you're pretty much stuck.

Like Niels stated, unless it's due to faulty labor that things went bad, I don't think there's much of anything you can do.

[tony1307]

Yea... I am just questioning wether they ever greased the outer tie rod ends. That is all I can think of that would have caused them both to fail prematurely.

[mattadams]

tony, unfortunately lifted vehicles eat tie rods. if its like mine were, I dont think they were greasable from the factory, and the superrunner kit just reuses factory tie rods, nothing new. It shouldn't be upt o them to grease them when installing because they are just using factory parts that are your job to maintain. That's like saying the bearings are bad after a lift, its just one of those things.
Sorry wish I could help more...

[Walking Eagle]

My experience with 4 Wheel Parts has been good with labor. They did my lift about 80,000 miles ago and gears about 50,000 miles ago.

My problem is when ordering parts either from their store or website. I never seem to get everything in the box that was expected. There is always missing brackets, bolts, shock covers, etc.

[Walking Eagle]

A place I heard has excellent service and good prices, but I've never been to because I've just heard about them recently is Wild West Off Road and Auto. May want to check them out if 4 Wheel Parts is not meeting your needs.

http://www.wildwestoffroad.com

[tony1307]

Matt.... I was under the impression that the whole unit was new, from tie rod to tie rod. I will hafta look in the box of parts they gave me back and see if my old ones are in there. I would assume they replaced them with new ones if they are willing to replace them free.


Thanks to everyone for your opinions in this matter.

[mattadams]

Unless the ranger kit is different fromt he explorer kit (and I dont think it is), the supperrunner steering kit re-uses your stock tie rods and tie rod ends.

[cory]

what a load of crap they charge all that money and use old parts, that sucks.

[mattadams]

The Explorer kit isn't that expensive compared ot like an F-150 kit. If I remember right when I bought my Superlift 5.5" lift for my Explorer, it was about $900 w/supperrunner steering. Compared to the $1900 that my Skyjacker kit runs, not too bad, LOL.
FYI, The Skyjacker reuses stock tie rods as well. LOL!