When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, regardless how improbable, must be the truth.  

Greg B wrote:

It was taken to a Jeep dealer and after laser measurements the problem was found.

The RH passenger side strut was bent. I authorised it to be replaced but insurance is balking.

I just told them, pay for it, don't pay pay it, I let the litigator deal with it.

It was actually good news to me because I wanted a matching set of struts Anyways. So,

finally some light at the end of the tunnel, and letting you know how it's going to turn out.

I get my Jeep back with at least 7 new door dings... Them crazy grocery shoppers just don't care about others property! Hey, I also got my 2004 running back on the road, and she's been great, no problems all winter so far. So there is that!

What was your issue with your 04? (what model do you have?)
 

Greg B wrote:

It's an 04 Limited. It got taken off the road because it failed inspection for a leaking axle seal. I wound up removing insurance on it as it was an extra vehicle anyway. Then I bought another newer limited and it just seemed redundant, I just couldn't bring myself to let it go, as it has a lot of memories.

After my wife's Jeep went down, I decided to put it back on the road rather than assume liability for a rental. So It got its well overdue maintenance. I repaired the leaking axle seal but stopped in 23. I think the pictures are on here, still. Anyways, I did the other side seal and bearing, brakes all the way around, shocks, and away bar end links, alignment, and new tires. And I'm sure a few other things I did after sitting almost three years. New dif fluid and Ford limited slip additive in both axles, because they were both chattering. Things like that.

Sounds a lot like what I have done to my 04 Overland, except I carried it a bit further. I too, really like my Jeep, and I have had it for a long time. At 174K my 4.7LHO sucked an intake valve. Got a rebuilt engine. My front axle was making metal, so I found an 03 Overland front axle with only 32K on it. I've redone all the control arms, shocks, transmission mount, sway bar links, coil spring seats replaced, rear axle bearings and seals and at 199K replaced the transmission and radiator. Transfer case and rear axle are the only high time items, but no issues with them, changed both fluids - all clear with no metal. It's a pavement princess, but I have taken it off road many times while deer hunting and it hasn't failed me yet. Some may call me dumb for doing that much to a 22 year old Jeep, but like they say "It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand..." Hope yours keeps giving you good service. 

I'm just glad my Mustangs don't have that many miles on them. 
 

Ron68 wrote:

Greg B wrote:

It's an 04 Limited. It got taken off the road because it failed inspection for a leaking axle seal. I wound up removing insurance on it as it was an extra vehicle anyway. Then I bought another newer limited and it just seemed redundant, I just couldn't bring myself to let it go, as it has a lot of memories.

After my wife's Jeep went down, I decided to put it back on the road rather than assume liability for a rental. So It got its well overdue maintenance. I repaired the leaking axle seal but stopped in 23. I think the pictures are on here, still. Anyways, I did the other side seal and bearing, brakes all the way around, shocks, and away bar end links, alignment, and new tires. And I'm sure a few other things I did after sitting almost three years. New dif fluid and Ford limited slip additive in both axles, because they were both chattering. Things like that.

Sounds a lot like what I have done to my 04 Overland, except I carried it a bit further. I too, really like my Jeep, and I have had it for a long time. At 174K my 4.7LHO sucked an intake valve. Got a rebuilt engine. My front axle was making metal, so I found an 03 Overland front axle with only 32K on it. I've redone all the control arms, shocks, transmission mount, sway bar links, coil spring seats replaced, rear axle bearings and seals and at 199K replaced the transmission and radiator. Transfer case and rear axle are the only high time items, but no issues with them, changed both fluids - all clear with no metal. It's a pavement princess, but I have taken it off road many times while deer hunting and it hasn't failed me yet. Some may call me dumb for doing that much to a 22 year old Jeep, but like they say "It's a Jeep thing, you wouldn't understand..." Hope yours keeps giving you good service. 

I'm just glad my Mustangs don't have that many miles on them. 
 

I am going to mention one other thing I'm doing...  People can call me whatever for this but it worked in this situation.  My Jeep did this to the tailgate and top of the rear bumper cover.  So my brother and I went up to pick n pull and snagged the tailgate and bumper off another.   I already have the tailgate on, but the bumper is sitting on the trunk of my Gal, because I have to cut the center bottom and switch bezel out.  Can barely tell.  Midnight Blue Pearlcoat is a very forgiving color.  I don't always recommend this, but I've done wholesale panel switches like this 3 times with success


 

The way modern vehicles are painted has created incredible consistency in color.  When I bought my '07 F250 the tailgate was rotted out at the bottom pretty bad.  I ordered a replacement tailgate shell off eBay (obviously aftermarket part) already painted to match based on my paint code.  Total cost?  $381 delivered to my door.  I certainly couldn't see any difference in the color despite the truck being 15 years old and having lived outside.  It took some finagling to get it aligned, but it looks like it was on the truck its entire life.