- Location
- Terra Firma
No, not the guys at the dealership. My dealership is blessed to have good parts guys who know their stuff and who work with the customers. It's the idiots at DaimlerChrysler who deserve this rant.
Got an MJ on which the original fasteners for the axle and of the track bar were missing when I bought it. I've been running it with a standard nut on the back, but the nut is difficult to get a wrench on. When the parts crew looked up the bolt for me, the book (computer) says it is no longer available, and it cross-references to the same torx-head bolt used for the upper control arms.
So that's what I'm using, but the torx head is a nuisance and the nut is worse. I happened to look under the 2000 the other day and saw that it has a tab hanging down, just like the 88 should have. Hmmm. Quick call to the shop, have them look up the 2000, and sure enough ... the computer lists the nut plate and bolt. Different part numbers than for 88, but available. I ordered them and just picked them up. The bolt is different ... has a conventional head and separate washer as opposed to the flange head style on the 88, but the nut plate appears to be identical.
So why does the computer tell us that for the older models we should use parts clearly NOT designed for that application, when they are still selling parts that ARE designed for that application?
Arrrggghhh!
If anyone else needs these parts for an older XJ, if it comes back as unavailable or the same as the control arm bolt, have your dealer look up the nut plate and bolt for a 2000 and order those.
Got an MJ on which the original fasteners for the axle and of the track bar were missing when I bought it. I've been running it with a standard nut on the back, but the nut is difficult to get a wrench on. When the parts crew looked up the bolt for me, the book (computer) says it is no longer available, and it cross-references to the same torx-head bolt used for the upper control arms.
So that's what I'm using, but the torx head is a nuisance and the nut is worse. I happened to look under the 2000 the other day and saw that it has a tab hanging down, just like the 88 should have. Hmmm. Quick call to the shop, have them look up the 2000, and sure enough ... the computer lists the nut plate and bolt. Different part numbers than for 88, but available. I ordered them and just picked them up. The bolt is different ... has a conventional head and separate washer as opposed to the flange head style on the 88, but the nut plate appears to be identical.
So why does the computer tell us that for the older models we should use parts clearly NOT designed for that application, when they are still selling parts that ARE designed for that application?
Arrrggghhh!
If anyone else needs these parts for an older XJ, if it comes back as unavailable or the same as the control arm bolt, have your dealer look up the nut plate and bolt for a 2000 and order those.