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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/DID TOWING CUSE DAMAGE?

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Expert: - 2/8/2005


Question
IF MY ALL-WHEEL DRIVE OLDS BRAVADA GOT TOWED, AND I WAS NOT THERE TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, COULD THAT CAUSE DAMAGE? I HAVE HAD MY BALL JOINTS REPLACED BEFORE, AND NOW MY WHEELS MAKE A LOT OF NOISE AFTER BEING TOWED RECENTLY. HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF THIS, AND IS THERE ANY WAY I CAN MAKE THE TOWING COMPNAY FIX MY CAR?

Answer
Logan,

Every vehicle has it's own towing specifications.  Normally, the damage done by towing usually occurs in the transmission, or transfer case.  I would contact your local dealer, if you don't have a manual for the Bravada, and ask the what the recommended method of towing is for your model.  It is possible that towing it did some damage, and this may depend on how the tow truck driver was towing it.  A reputable tow company should have drivers that know the proper method of towing for any vehicle.  It would be real hard to make the tow company pay for any damage, unless you could get a mechanic to inspect the Bravada, and substantiate that damage was directly caused by the tow.

Good luck,

Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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