So about 6-7 months ago Meineke replaced my lower ball joints because they were out of spec. I recently had my car serviced by a Mitsubishi dealer who replaced the upper control arms, the pitman arm, and the idler arm. They also told me my lower ball joints were out of spec again.

I have an aftermarket warranty that covered all of the work done at the dealer (and previously at Meineke) but they would not cover the lower ball joints again because they said the parts should be covered under Meineke's warranty.

Meineke is telling me that they are indeed in need of replacement, but they have not yet agreed to cover the labor involved to replace them?!? I understand it is about $400 in labor...

I have never heard of a parts warranty that doesn't include labor??? Is this normal? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

Yes. Most places I've ever bought Lifetime warranty parts from warranty the part only.

Even when a shop is doing all of the work?

Maybe I should re-phrase...is it normal to have a shop warranty something without including the labor involved to replace it? At the dealer they will replace a failed part including the labor...and Meineke got the part from a Mits dealer?

Best thing to do is look at the paperwork from when you first had the work done. If it says they cover parts and not labor then this discussion is simply academic. If it does say they cover labor then show them the paperwork.

I worked at carquest for a few years. They had to file a labor claim though us to get us to cover the labor for the parts as well as the parts to cover the total of all off it. All I have to say is good luck getting that back. PITA.

IMHO Most places that have ever offered a lifetime warranty have offered it on the part only and not the labor to replace it. This includes for example the mufflers that Meineke is well known for. I'm not sure about other parts but as the capn has noted, it's purely academic until you review your own paperwork from that. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I look forward to seeing my paperwork for this, I have no access to it now. The shop has basically told me that they will split the cost of the labor. I know this could be cut and dry depending on what is stated on the receipt. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

What a PITA, I should have just went to the dealer in the first place.

I'll let you know if this is all a worthless conversation.

How do you keep killing lower ball joints? Why were your lower control arms replaced?

The Meineke warranty is 90 days for labor, 12 months parts.



Crap...I just edited that, the UPPER control arms were replaced by the dealer.

I was wondering that myself. I had the pitman, idler, and upper control arms replaced at the dealer because they did a free inspection weekend and said they were "loose" IIRC. The steering felt loose to me...and now I have the ball joint wobble I remember.

What wears on a ball joint?

Lack of grease, jumping, high speed washboard roads, out of balance tires, bad idler arm or upper control arm bushings...etc.