2015 Patriot control arms

[simple_gifts]

A friend of mine has a 'from new' 2015 Patriot with the 2.4 and 6AT; During the most recent OC @ the dealer, the service guy indicated one of the control arms needed replacing (of course, in pairs) and it would be $1300USD. Vehicle has 25K and beyond the 3yr b2b warranty.

She consulted a friend who brought it to a mechanic friend and sliding under the car indicated they weren't worn. I was consulted for a contribution.

Reading around, it appears reasonably likely that if not worn now, they will be within 100K or 50K miles; regardless, a few questions I have.

1) Can worn out C.As be diagnosed without lifting the vehicle? How is the "worn outness" determined

2) Is it the bushings that wear?

3) If they need replacing, what is a suitable aftermarket brand to look @; obviously OEM is NOT the way to go.

Friend drives like, and is in fact, a grandmother, so no 4wheeling, etc. I told her if they are worn to call the Jeep regional service guy and insist they cover part or all of the repair.

Any help is appreciated except telling her to sell it and get a RAV4

-Thomas

 

[Andrew1972]

They probably are worn but not worn out. Majority of dealers pull this one out but typically in latter mileage/age.

Customers do say yes occasionally and they score $1300 of work.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Proforged is good

 

[JMJNet]

If the independent mechanic (not affiliated with stealership) said it is not worn, then it is not.

That is why we call it "Stealership".

I went to a Toyota Stealership here for a recall, they told me the valve cover gasket is leaking but I know it is not.
So, I just brush it off and pick up my car after the recall work was finished.
Another time, they say I had a leak in steering rack, where it is only a torn boot.

Anyway, if there is no clicking when driving and turning, the control arm is not bad.
Yes, it is a rubber bushing type, so you should be able to see if it is broken.

 

[doitmyself]

They made lots of changes to the Patriot after FCA took over, starting with the 2011 model and going up (i.e., 2013- Hyundai 6 speed transmission). At the Patriot forum, you see few suspension component complaints compared to the awful first generation models. The most common suspension complaint is that sometimes they begin to creak. It usually is considered a nuisance vs. a failure, IMO. However, there are always a few parts that fail prematurely or get damaged during use regardless of brand.

I would get another opinion or better yet, ask the dealer to show you why they think it is defective. These are relatively inexpensive parts and they are pretty easy to change. $1300 seems very expensive. Aftermarket parts are hit or miss now-a-days, even the venerable MOOG brand. I haven't read of any particular brand being superior.

 

[das_peikko]

They want $1300 while I would do the job for an extra large pizza. Crazy world we live in.

 

[Trav]

The large donut bushing is probably showing some cracking. Go OE only they cost about $142 for the right and $151 for the left, not worth going with aftermarket for that price. It looks like a quick and easy job.

https://www.factorypart.com/auto-pa...ont-suspension-cat/front-suspension-scat

 

[Nick1994]

My mom's 2012 Patriot needed lower control arms, and also struts. Here's a picture of that invoice from July 2016 (extended warranty...)

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

I worked at a Chrysler Jeep dealer till 2013. The lower ball joints would fail extremely prematurely on all of those. Dog style jeeps and I assume there hasn't been a better or updated part of hers failed that soon. The lower ball joint was serviced with the control arm. They'd get dangerously loose. I doubt that many of our customers drove like idiots, it was such a common problem.

 

[das_peikko]

Maybe I should charge 4 extra large pizzas.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Originally Posted by Trav
The large donut bushing is probably showing some cracking. Go OE only they cost about $142 for the right and $151 for the left, not worth going with aftermarket for that price. It looks like a quick and easy job.

https://www.factorypart.com/auto-pa...ont-suspension-cat/front-suspension-scat


Rock Auto has them for slightly less. And Proforged arms are about $75 each. They also have US-made Moogs for the same price range, but they use that greasable zerk fitting

 

[Trav]

I have never had any luck with aftermarket LCA and wont use them anymore after a fiasco.
You buy the aftermarket LCA to save a few bucks, install it and go for an alignment, it wont align properly. Now you have to return it and get another, if you got it from Rock the car is down a few days to a week. Same thing happens, now you are out for 2 alignment and looking for a third LCA and another alignment.

By now the merry-go-round is in top gear and you are on it, so you buy the OE LCA get another alignment and its done, a one shot deal. You paid almost twice as much in the end. Been there done that (many years ago) and never again.
You sit there that night and wonder what the eff was I doing, I know better than this. Give yourself a dope slap and go to bed all disgusted. Learn from it. LOL

Edit: If they sell a Moog Heim joint style bushing for this application that the way to go with a new front bushing and ball joint.