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   djsumdog (djsumdog@djsumdog.com)'s status on Friday, 15-Nov-2024 11:53:14 JST djsumdog
   I took my truck to the shop to replace a squeaky ball joint. Apparently the ball had entirely rusted. The shop owner ordered a rebuild kit from the aftermarket vendor (Camburg), and after the rebuild, the ball joint and bearing assembly would just fall out. Camburg doesn't sell individual arm replacements, so now I was out the cost of a useless rebuild kit and the labor for that kit. The shop vendor suggested some cheap $400 arms he found on Amazon and I was like "No."
   
   I ordered some Icon upper control arms and had them installed. They are much better designed and sealed than the Camburgs. I'll see if I can sell the old arms on eBay as damaged/parts.
   
   The mechanic still added labor on top of all this for the Icon arms. A ball joint turned into $2500.
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     djsumdog (djsumdog@djsumdog.com)'s status on Saturday, 16-Nov-2024 00:13:02 JST djsumdog

     in reply to

     • Parus Major
     Yea I'm not a fan of paying for a rebuild kit that was literally worthless. Was it the shop's fuckup? Was it Camburg for seeing the photo and suggesting the kit when it wouldn't work? The arm has a lifetime warranty, but the shop owner said it was for the original owner and Camburg told me it only covers manufacture defect, not damage.
     
     I could try to send the arm in for the warranty. It honestly looks fine and should be covered. The shop did find other screws that were falling out of the back leaf spring. I really need to get under there and inspect it more often.
     
     I don't think I should have been charged even more labor. I was originally going to fight him over it, but I dunno. It was three weeks and I just wanted the truck back.
     
     I was intimidated earlier since the suspension setup was aftermarket (previous owner), but learning more about left kits and control arms, I really should have done the work myself .. or at least taken it to the specialized 4x4 shop on the other side of town.
     
     I doubt I'll take another vehicle back to this shop.
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     Parus Major (parusmajor@shitposter.world)'s status on Saturday, 16-Nov-2024 00:13:03 JST Parus Major

     in reply to
     @djsumdog When did it become the norm to charge labour for fixing your own fuckup? A while ago we had a builder who didn't follow the plans, and when we called it they spent a couple days fixing it and charged us for that time.