Still trying to get my cat aligned and the shop is telling me that my rear suspensions "ball n socket" joint where the control arm meets the whatever is loose. He says the "ball" part is moving around too much in the "socket" part. So when the car's rear tires are off the ground the rear wheels can be moved around. And since they align the front using the rears, the alignment can't be done.

Does this sound reasonable? Would a Select Edition Jag warrantycover something like this? If not, what can I expect to pay?

Thanks guys

 

Pretty vague mate. Can you take a picture of what they are talking about?

 

I am not sure what they are refering to, so I do not know what to take a picture of. Are there multiple "ball and socket" typeconnections on the rear suspension of an X-Type?

 

The only "ball and socket" looking piece I see back there is the rear sway bar link.

 

Thats why I want pic. Sway bar links should not prevent them from alignment. I at this point would not trust them to align the vehicle if they cannot tell you what it is they say should be replaced.

 

the alignment shop is suppoed to call me back today with an estimate

yes, 85,000 miles

I am lubing up[sm=sigh.gif], my wife is on the way to the dealer

 

How come you didn't take it? If you have SE couldn't that part be considered for the problem why you need an alignment? Hopefully you have a creative service writer at the dealer...as FJT has said anything can be covered they just have to use a careful choice of words...

 

I originally just thought I just needed an alignment, so that's why I did not take it to the dealer - they charge $190 for an alignment. Plus I have to commit to an appointmentduring business hours,5 to 7days from the call. The alignment shop offered a lifetime alignment for $140, less than a mile from my house, and is open till 9pm (Firestone Auto Care Center).

Firestonejust called back and said that they can not fix the rear suspension. The dealer would have to do it. They stated the "front lower arm" in the rear suspension connected by the subframe needs to be replaced on both passenger and driver side. Is there a "ball and socket" joint there?

The cat is at the dealer right now, and is still under the SE warranty - hopefully, that will help me. Yeah, I get to beat the shyt out of a Toyota Corolla loaner tonight.

 

They gave you a toyota? Hmmm...enterprise at the dealer in michigan only had jags I think, your dealer must have been out of loaners...

 

lower arms a very common.. to go.. and expensive.. 150 each

 

150 really isn't too bad (imo), I paid 50 or 60 for a very simple one for my 94 thunderbird I had but man it was seriously just a tiny piece of metal. Although that was the front upper not the rear...

 

dealer says there is nothing wrong with the cat's rear suspension, off to the alignment shop for a fight

 

Should have tried telling the dealer what they wanted to do the alignment, perhaps they would have worked with ya...

 

ok, shop now shows me the problem, there is something loose.

cat is going back to dealer on Wednesday

 

While your at it get them to match the other places cost on alignment! Take some pics so the techs know what your talking about while your at it as well...

 

and the dealer tells me the lowerarms are OK (they call them dog bones, they are small pieces, like 1 foot long), and there should be some play or movement (slide back and forth a bit) where they connecttowards theinside of the car by the subframe(opposite end is connectedsomewhere around the wheel hub). now that I have seen it, I would not call it a ball n socket joint

does this sound right, should it have some movement at that connection?

 

Fjt will chime in sooner or later...if not pm him...

 

when you say "to go" what do you mean?

are they supposed to move a back and forth about a1/4 inch where they connect to the subframe? the dealer tech said that the bushing there should have some give

 

meaning the part tends to go as in go bad...