National Backorder on Replacement Parts – Jeep

So I sit here once again trying to repair something small on the JL, and once again the part I need is on national backorder. Frankly it’s getting a bit tedious.

First it was the axle seal.

A few months back I had a new 4.88 ring and pinion gear installed. During the process one of the axle seals started leaking. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence and you would think that the seal would be an easy part to source.

Like me, you would be very mistaken. All those websites that tell you they have everything – well they don’t. Neither did any dealer, no aftermarket alternatives, and a healthy multi-month wait.

It took engaging Jeep Cares and plenty of phone calls to finally get my hands on one.

Now I can’t seem to find an axle vent tube.

Once again my predicament is something that happens. During the replacement of my front axle control arm bushings, I managed to damage the vent tube. It’s thin pot metal and perfectly in the way of replacing the axle side bushings. Thank you for that design gem Jeep.

I figured not a big deal. Dana 44 axles are a dime a dozen and this part can’t have changed all that much. Apparently automotive designers like to change things just because they can.

The vent is backordered nationally, and wonderfully enough even the order I placed was canceled due to an unknown delivery timeline. I get that Covid-19 has impacted manufacturing but the odds that every axle vent tube in the country was sold seems slim.

I can’t even engage Jeep Cares without an active order, and I can’t get an active order if the supplier cancels it.

If anyone has a JL axle vent tube laying around let me know.

Seriously, I could really use one. JL Rubicon Dana 44 front axle vent tube. The part is $12 from many resellers.

4 thoughts on “National Backorder on Replacement Parts – Jeep

  1. I was involved in a car accident back July 2020 and its been since then I don’t have my car back they told me parts were suppose to come april 2021 now they are saying till June 2021 and idea what I can do I am paying my car and I am carless don’t have a rental and no one seems to help me with the issue and I did not cause the accident

    1. I’m not an attorney but if someone else’s insurance is responsible for this you need to go after them for depreciated value on the car, a rental car, and possibly compensation for the non-use of your car. It may be worth getting an attorney or a consultation to see what you can do.

      As for help to get your parts faster try reaching out to @jeepcares via social media. They can expedite items and get you a better timeline for parts and pieces.

  2. Unfortunately everyone seems to be using the pandemic as an excuse to not provide customer service. I never did receive some of the parts I needed either, to include this vent. I ended up going a different route of DIY. Not helpful to you when it’s a PCM.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

4 Wheels and a Motor