posted 08-09-2002 02:46 AM         

Email from Larry lmeier@inebraska.com

good evening dan ....... i wanted to ask you if you had ever heard of anyone loosing a ball joint on there prowler
this morning on my way to the bank as i was going over a bridge at about 35 mph the left front wheel /tire assy. ripped off without any worning and i found
myself sliding down the street , and when i came to a stop and stopped shaking i looked to see just what came apart .
the left lower ball joint separated and ground a good portion of my lower control arm away by the time i got her stopped , i have xtended warrenty so i am
covered but now i am wondering about the other side and what kind of shape they are in , i asked my prowler parts man and teck to replace both left upper
and lower control arm/ball joint assy.s
they were already going to replace my stearing rack on the 19th of august because of all of the noise it makes , oh and i have ( almost ) 28,000 miles on it
........
thank god for the xtended warrenty ..........
thanks dan ........

Please email him with any suggestions or recommendations....

Later...

posted 08-09-2002 07:26 AM         

Texas owners - can you get DW's phone or email address and email to Larry M. at his address in Dan's first post, thanks.

Larry - keep us posted on the final answers.
BTW - GO BIG RED

------------------


Call 911 - there is a Prowler in my garage....
3.5 power packed POA hours daily, always with rock solid analysis of all the hot topics!

LARRY SALZMAN - MESA, ARIZONA

posted 08-09-2002 07:37 AM         

I'd recommend that any owner have their dealership inspect the lower ball joints and make sure the repair order states that they signed off as to the condition of the ball joints at time of inspection. This way you have some peace of mind. I've had mine checked and the dealer says they are fine. I'm out of warranty but the cost to inspect was small when compared to the end result..

posted 08-09-2002 07:41 AM         

Fred actually had a guy by the name of Bruce with DOT contact him with regards to these type situations. TAKE PICTURES AND SAVE THE PARTS!!!! Bruce needs them for his study. There will possibly be a SAFETY RECALL according to him.

Bruce (National Highway Safety Board Administration)
202-366-6938

I am currently looking for my pics for him. Chrysler covered my damage @ 100%

posted 08-09-2002 07:47 AM         

Yes I did call him. I forgot to mention, I had heard of this happening to 2 or 3 others when it happened to me. Does anyone know who these people are? Bruce needs to talk to them. Fellow Kat owners SAFETY depends on it!!!

posted 08-10-2002 09:25 AM         

1.)both noticed steering difficulty.
2.)both dealers diagnosed the problem as a steering rack.
3.Larry actually heard noises from the frt end prior. I did not.
4.)we both had to "muscle" steer the car. very minor muscle but thats about the only word I can find to discribe it.It wasnt to the point that it felt like no power steering. It was like it had low pressure in the steering.
5.) the dealer only wanted to replace the one side. both cars had the lt side fail. 10k miles later,differant dealer and service manager, the right side was replaced on my car.My personal opinion was my precious cargo(my 9yo little girl) was with me when I was telling the new service manager about the whole ordeal while in for other warranty items.
Larry and I both seem to have had a lot of warranty problems. Larry thought it may be the fact that we drive our cars. He has 28k I had 26k when it happened to me. I am not at 38k.

But you what.......We both still LOVE our cars!

posted 08-10-2002 09:11 PM         

WE ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE PROBLEMS AT SOME POINT

Need to find good aftermarket lower ball joint that has zert fittings so they can be greased

posted 08-10-2002 09:25 PM         

Al

posted 08-11-2002 01:15 AM         

Mike K - can you get our secret man in Detroit in on this discussion? I'm sure he and DC do not want this problem to go any further unrecognized. I don't think it would be in their best interest, or ours, to have the Federal Highway Safety Department leeking this to the media. The Corvair, Vega, Pinto, and Explorer problems serve as a statement to what happens to a car line when the manufacturer denies any knowledge of any problems.

posted 08-21-2002 10:20 AM         

I haven't had time to post on the board lately....Sorry!

I talked to Bruce with NTSB last week when I sent him my pictures. He told me Larry was able to keep the old parts off his car and was sending them to him. He was expecting them right away.
I sent him all I had with regards to my situation. He also said he checks this board every day to see if there's anything new. If anyone knows and has contact with anyone who this has happened to, PLEASE POST!
Bruce said he will update me with his findings/research once it is complete..............Ive not heard anything since last week.

posted 08-21-2002 04:30 PM         

Larry has been emailing me almost every other day with status on his progress.

Things are going his way and has repaired his CAT.

I will ask him is he can post or allow me to post his details.

Larry M.,

If you read this, how about an update here??

posted 08-24-2002 11:27 PM         

Did any of the cars with failed balljoints have a brake job that included the use of brake cleaner?

I just replaced my pads and sprayed off the dust with brake cleaner. A puddle formed right over the lower balljoint and, remembering this post, I quickly blew it out. If I left the puddle, it looks like it could have found its way into the balljoint. End of balljoint in a few thousand miles.

Comments?