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| - This review is long overdue, but I'm trying to catch up on some this morning and wanted to start the day with a great recommendation first. Positive brings good results and that's exactly what you find here.
This is one of those specialty shops that do what other shops won't and when your mechanic starts saying anything that remotely sounds like drive shafts, axles, rear differential, transfer case (used in 4 X 4 vehicles).. steering - rack and pinion, shocks, sway bars, and basically anything else he can't pronounce and all you see is $ signs coming out of his mouth, then stop right there - grab your keys and drive over to Dan's Driveline before you sign over your savings.
I 'm one of those guys who wants to save money, hates paying mechanics for something I can do myself for a lot less (believe me I have the tools and the knowledge) and wants to shop ebay / amazon for wholesale parts. Basically taking a car to have it fixed is against my grain unless it was rebuilding transmission and then I give up.
I was trying to sell my Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4 X 4 with the Hemi engine. Even though the miles were below average, the vehicle had this ongoing horrible sounding "clunk" when you went from Park to reverse and reverse to drive. It sounded like the transmission or the transfer case was going to drop out, but when you drove it after the noise it ran smooth, shifted normal and seemed perfectly fine. I ignored it for a long time as it was basically a second car for me and I hardly drove it. Every time I did move it or drive it, I would hear that sound and cringe thinking I am glad this is not my daily driver.
Well when it came time for me to sell it back in November, I just rmembered the old adage "don't invest money in something you're just trying to sell". I mean I replaced the brake pads and battery as that is a safety issue, but this was just a "clunk" and it still drove fine. I then detailed the car, steamed the engine, shampoo'd the interior and it was looking better than new. Carmax always gives the best money for your trade without having to buy another car and off I went. Smiling that is until the offer came back 50% less than the average wholesale trade and loan value. I was puzzled and not amused until the guy said, "well if the tranny didn't sound like it was going to take the transfer case on a date get married and never return, then maybe it would be worth another $5K".
Let me try to shorten this review as i am off on a tangent. I researched what could be wrong and apparently this was an issue with many of the Grand Cherokees 2005-2008. It wasn't the tranny or the transfer case, but the axle supports on the front drive-train. There are rubber shock bushings between the bolts that tighten down the axle to the frame. These are called isolator bushings and they were rotted out. Apparently an issue Jeep should have recalled, but that' another reason I will never ever buy Chrysler product again - even Mercedes after they merged.
So I researched the parts and googled the how to video and the more I looked into it, the less appealing a 5 hour labor job for 2 $30 bushings was making its way into my busy schedule. I was dreading taking it to a mechanic and going o prepare myself for an easy $1500 bill. I heard about Dan's from another car guru and I drove up there on Saturday just before closing. I was prepared to leave it for as long as it took, so waiting or timing was not an issue for me. I just wanted the good news or the bad. I wish I remembered the lady's name who helped me, but she was very nice and got someone to look at my car . You would think they all enjoyed working here and the 5PM whistle didn't matter if a customer was still in need.
The mechanic got under the vehicle and we spoke briefly. We went inside and i was told that they would have an estimate Monday and I could leave it till then. I was going out of town, so no big deal. That Monday another very nice gentleman called me and said here is your estimate broken down. I was shocked to hear the parts were the same price I was quoted on amazon (I never revealed to them I knew the wholesale price- that was my bargaining tool). He even surprised me more when he gave my the labor price of $400. I thought surely there must be some mistake and wanted to get off the phone before he changed his mind.
A day or so later the same guy called and said, "we finished and I have some news for you". I thought here we go with the add-ons and the reality was becoming surreal. I thought you got me as you already performed the work, so jack it up to the $1500 tactic. He continued, "well we were able yo get the job done with less labor time, so I saved you another $60 bucks". What?!?! Jaw dropped. that's why these guys get 5 stars. I never experienced this before and I left there with a new outlook and perception of repair shops until I realized this company really is unique. I praise you all at Dan's. Thank you so much! I sold the Jeep!
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