[cbutler32]

so let me lay the ground here.
vehicle is in shop for "squeking" left rear middle of last month.
Guys at DCX dealership couldn't find what was wrong so they are going to replace all of the rear bushings this coming Monday instead.
So I get the car back from them that night and put about 25 miles on it. As I'm driving home with my older daughter in the car, I get on it and as the car shifts from 1st to 2nd, it sounds like the rear end took a rpg hit from underneath. I hesitated for a second to see if I lost power and driveability. No problems. Called the dealership the next morning and let my service advisor know. He says no problem Chris, just bring it in when we replace the bushings if you are not leaking any fluids or can see anything. So 3 weeks go by and then this evening, I am driving same daughter again, and the rear end sounds like another rpg hits the car on the underside. Pull over and check again. Can't see anything. Feels ok. So I call dealership as it is happening and left message that I am having problem with rear end of vehicle. It is shimming bad and the back end has a serious vibration.

new info:
Got a call back this morning that they'll be expecting me in. Told him of syptoms again and the vibration and that I think it is the coupler attached to the driveshaft and that the driveshaft has rub marks on it. "Go ahead and bring it in". Not go and have it towed in, go ahead and bring it it as in drive it in.
Sincerely,
cbutler32

 

[srt8man]

I'm glad to hear it's covered by warranty. My SRT8s right axle shaft broke under hard acceleration several weeks ago, rendering my car completely disabled on the side of the road. Good luck, and I hope they get it running like new.

 

[stevesrt8]

thanks

thanks for all your 'research'!

We have had members report losing a bolt out of said coupler, too.

Might have a look at mine this weekend.

 

[CUEBALL]

Just when I thought I was safe... Chris brings me back to reality. LOL

Hope it gets fixed for good brother!

 

[cbutler32]

so now that bad part.
Chrylser is refusing to cover the warranty and replacement.
As the sub frame has been cleanly snapped right above the pumpkin and just to the left side of the bolt that attachs the pumpkin to the frame.
And the subframe also is torn on the top part of the frame on either side (outer towards fenders) of the braces/brackets that are welded on the subframe.
So how'd ya like to get that phone call on a Friday afternoon at 4:41pm.
And the saga begins.

There saying it is not covered by warranty.
I'm saying that the coupler failed, which caused the driveshaft to rotate out of balance or cavitate thus putting massive stress on the pumpkin which then transfered the stress to the frame which broke.

They are also saying that Chrysler's new way of handling major issues is to deny that they'll cover it and force you to call customer service and force them to fix it.
Guess what I'm going to be doing first thing Monday morning. Calling DCX and complaining!!!

 

[DanRealtor]

Coupler

Look at the coupler between the driveshaft and rear diff. The coupler is a thick rubber pad with bushings set in it and is the only thing that connects the two (as in no direct contact between shaft & diff) except the center of the driveshaft (about one inch) that centers the shaft. The coupler has holes in between the bushings to provide some cushion. As the coupler ages and as a result of heat (proximity to exhaust components) the coupler fatgues. The result is stress on the driveshaft end which is trying to remain centered as the coupling allows the driveshaft excess play, and it begins to wobble. Now the stress is passed on to the pumpkin which is rigidly mounted to the rear subframe. The vibration can do tremendous damage quickly since the mass of the pumpkin is acting as a vibrating hammer.

Threadstarter: Since the drivetrain is an item covered by the Chrysler Warranty the repair should be covered.

Everyone: Whenever your car is up in the air for any reason, inspect yours just to stay aware of the condition as you go. They ARE NOT cheap. I think mine was like $250 just for the rear, and the bolts are sold separately (about $50 IIRC). The cost if it fails and damages other parts is much greater though.

BTW: If you order a driveshaft it comes with the front and rear couplers and bolts. (guess how I know that)

 

[cbutler32]

pictures now over at LX
Rear Driveshaft Coupler - Grenaded? Most Likely - LX Forums Modern Mopar Muscle

 

[CoolVSRT8]

Butler i still have my 5.7 subframe kickin around find out if you can use it

 

[cbutler32]

Butler i still have my 5.7 subframe kickin around find out if you can use it

Now that is an awesome offer!
But this is going to be on their dime, not mine.
Will keep you informed though.
THANKS!!!

 

[cbutler32]

ok, here are some more pics from today.
Now in the light today, I could see that the underside of the flange/bracket on either side of the subframe is also cracked.
But something even bigger...
The half shafts have a rub spot on them and they touched the subframe. Not all the way around - so it was very quick. Touched in one spot.
That is why the dealership is refusing to submit to Chrysler - they said that I must have "jumped" the car to get the half shafts to rub. "as I have never seen this happen before."
"You mean to tell me that you also missed that the subframe is cracked in the middle of the subframe just to the left of the pumpkin bolting it to the subframe?"
"Oh, I didn't see that when I did the P&A on it. Hmmm, well, who knows what happened first."
Yeah ok, buddy.
So at least I am understanding their thinking here a little. They think I went out and either "jumped" the car or loaded it up so heavy in a drag race that I tore up the rear end.
No, to both. As my 10-year old daughter was in car during both issues noted above.
here are some pictures from today:

 

[CUEBALL]

here are some pictures from today:

Pics???? I think my Mom was right all those years ago.... now I'm going blind. :biggrin:

 

[cbutler32]

I just firgured out the other site on how to post pics after 5 years...
now you want me to do this site too?

here's a couple to give you an idea of how bad...

 

[stevesrt8]

ouch

damn sorry to see your car damaged. But this is starting to be heard more now as we get some hard miles on these platforms.

Best of luck. One call to Customer Service and you should be golden.

 

[cbutler32]

damn sorry to see your car damaged. But this is starting to be heard more now as we get some hard miles on these platforms.

Best of luck. One call to Customer Service and you should be golden.

Thanks Steve.
That is what I am thinking with regards to the mileage.
One of the guys over on LX says that the rear cradle was probably loose. Thus the squeaking sounds that I had it in for mid december and the rear cradle bushings that they were going to replace tomorrow.
I have sent an email Friday night outlining my discontent with the dealerships choice not to even attempt to work on the vehicle and submit it for warranty work because they said Chrysler will refuse it.
We'll see how this plays out.
As I am making sure everyone knows how Chrysler handles it.
This will be a good barometer for future car sales of existing car owners, don't you think?
Thanks,
Chris

 

[stevesrt8]

absolutely true

Totally agreed.

I see a real opportunity for them to make a friend here. But I hear too many stories of how BAD customer service ruins the ownership experience.

The dealer is everything.

 

[NWH_300C]

i was about to get an extended warranty as my 3/36 is running out, and after reading this I am seriously thinking about not getting it now if it's going to be like pulling teeth in order for them to honor it.

 

[srt8man]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I snapped the right axle shaft on my SRT8 several weeks ago and my car is stock, other than the Predator tune. My dealer service experience was horrible, but they did repair it under warranty. They gave me a lecture on "abuse" and I had a couple of uncomfortable conversations with the service technician. For a while, it was unclear if they would even cover it. They commented on the rubber in the wheel wells and on the mufflers. Always clean any burnt rubber up right away, even in the places you can't see such as the wheel wells and under the mufflers. They implied the burnt rubber showed "abuse". I'm not sure what will happen if I have more problems, but I'll be bringing mine to a different dealer from now on. Good luck with the repair. Keep us posted on your experience.

 

[cbutler32]

Totally agreed.
I see a real opportunity for them to make a friend here. But I hear too many stories of how BAD customer service ruins the ownership experience.
The dealer is everything.

I see an opportunity to do what is right to start with. #2 - get it fixed so they can learn what is going on with a car that has 74,000+ miles and why. #3 - to help me out because of all of the "business" directed to their company over the last 5 years. #4 - the dealer has always been good to me. We'll see how well Chrysler handles this though.

i was about to get an extended warranty as my 3/36 is running out, and after reading this I am seriously thinking about not getting it now if it's going to be like pulling teeth in order for them to honor it.

I have to tell you that the warranty has paid itself over and over. After seeing the rub mark on the underside of the subframe due to touching the half shaft - I think that is why they are gun shy on this and saying that I had to have absolutely abused it. With my daughter in car. NEVER.
Get the warranty.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I snapped the right axle shaft on my SRT8 several weeks ago and my car is stock, other than the Predator tune. My dealer service experience was horrible, but they did repair it under warranty. They gave me a lecture on "abuse" and I had a couple of uncomfortable conversations with the service technician. For a while, it was unclear if they would even cover it. They commented on the rubber in the wheel wells and on the mufflers. Always clean any burnt rubber up right away, even in the places you can't see such as the wheel wells and under the mufflers. They implied the burnt rubber showed "abuse". I'm not sure what will happen if I have more problems, but I'll be bringing mine to a different dealer from now on. Good luck with the repair. Keep us posted on your experience.

Now that is interesting to hear. Have you been dealing with this for a while?
This touches on what I am hearing is that the dealers are being much more critical on warranty items because Chrysler is not going to pay them.

Thanks to everyone for their comments.

 

[srt8man]

Now that is interesting to hear. Have you been dealing with this for a while?
This touches on what I am hearing is that the dealers are being much more critical on warranty items because Chrysler is not going to pay them.

Thanks to everyone for their comments.

The dealer that I took it to for repair was the one that sold me the car, and the one that I have always brought it to for service. They were fine, until I had a problem. The service tech told me the car had to be abused or it wouldn't have broken, and then he pointed out the rubber in the wheel wells. I never admited to doing burnouts, but I told him that spinning the tires should not cause an axle shaft to snap. Then I told him that "it's not like I've been towing a boat with my car". Either way, I felt like I shouldn't have to explain things, and they should just do the repair and stop trying to make me feel like it was my fault.

Do you have a Predator tune installed on your car? Originally, I thought the Predator may have had something to do with the failure because I had just installed the tune 2 days before it happened. Everyone seems to agree that it couldn't have been the Predator and it was most likely some kind of defect in the part or perhaps something that happened earlier (maybe at the dragstrip?).

 

[CoolVSRT8]

Damn you snapped your rear cradle almost at the weld its funny i was talking to my friend whos a tech at my dealer and he said theres been 2 cars one magnum srt and a charger srt with busted rear cradles.......hmmmmm