Anyone ever have a problem with Northridge4x4?
- Thread starter atup1996
- Start date
Since we are loving Northridge the guy on the phone helped me more than anyone ever has. He even called my back at home to make sure they had it right. I just wish they carried more things.
GreatWhiteTurtle
New Member
I know why I think that is not great advice, but would you mind sharing why you think it is? I just want to see if we have the same reasons.
(You're more of an expert by far--I'm not trying to "gotcha" or anything like that)
GreatWhiteTurtle
New Member
John Matthews at Auburn Car Repair & Offroad (he's the owner) is a local guru when it comes to Jeep stuff. I'm sure he's a member of this forum. I haven't taken my Jeep in to him yet (though I have been meaning to for a long time to get his help sorting out my steering and suspension).
I did buy a fender from him once and I'm a member of a Facebook group he Admins.
He earned 5th place in the 4500 category of the 2020 King of Hammers, apparently:
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/all-things-koh-2020.31206/post-506095
But to answer the original question from the OP:
Yes and no. I live pretty lose to Northridge 4x4; I'm in Port Orchard. Not long after I bought my Jeep, I set about trying to rebuild the old Warn M8000 winch that came with it and get the thing working. When I started looking up where to find parts (I mostly just wanted to put new gaskets/seals in it, etc.), I looked at the Warn website, which pointed me to my nearest authorized Warn service center: Northridge 4x4. I called and asked if they could get the seals I needed, and the guy sounded impatient/annoyed; I got the sense he felt he had more important stuff to do than help someone order a couple cheap gaskets for an old winch. Beyond that I can't remember exactly what else happened, but I believe the guy told me he had no idea where I could find the part numbers I was asking about, but that he didn't have them. Whatever the case was, I came away from that first impression feeling like Northridge 4x4 was unwilling and/or unable to help me.
I kept looking around the web for the things I needed and when I had hit a wall and there was something I just couldn't find anywhere (or maybe one website listed the thing I needed, but wanted $50 for it--whatever), and I ended up calling Warn directly to ask if they would be willing to help me find a place to source what i needed. I told the rep that I had tried getting help from the only nearby Authorized Warn service center, and mentioned the bad experience I had. The rep sounded surprised and genuinely curious which business I had dealth with, and when I said it had been Northridge, he sounded even more surprised, but didn't seem interested at all in doubting me or arguing, he just apologized that I'd been having a hard time locating the parts I needed, and sent them to me for no charge. He was super nice.
Fast forward another month or two, maybe, and I stopped by Northridge 4x4 because I was passing thru. My winch assembly had been put back together but still had one or more faulty solenoids and I was hoping Northridge might have a few in stock, or something. They didn't, but during that visit I met someone who I believe was/is a manager and I think his name was Eric or Erik. He was super friendly and super helpful, and showed me a product they had in stock which was a contactor pack upgrade/retrofit. It replaces the four solenoids and related rat's nest of wiring, and also acts as an alternative structural support in lieu of the crossbars, which cost $20+ and have to be replaced any time you remove them. The contactor pack is also waterproof, and has a plug that accepts modern warn controller plugs, unlike my old 5 pin solenoid box. He also took the initiative to look up their current profit margin oin the computer, and then he discounted it for me because he didn't want me to pay more for it than I would if I'd bought it elsewhere. Point being, the thing is a godsend and was the final thing I needed to get my winch working, and it's treated me well for going on 6 years now,
Moral of the story: I've had a slightly unpleasant experience, which might have just been a bad employee (who maybe doesn't even work there anymore--I have no idea), but my later experience more than made up for it.
I'm pretty much certain his answer will be related to the Dana 35 outer bearings riding directly on the shaft and the wear that comes along with that, making the usual 4xxx alloys inappropriate in favor of 1541H.
X2. @GreatWhiteTurtle The problem with the Dana 35's outer bearings is they don't have an inner race so the roller bearings ride directly on the surface of the axle shaft. Chromoly shafts don't have sufficient surface hardening to be able to hold up to it. This shows the Dana 35's outer bearing that doesn't have an inner race, the next photo shows a chromoly Dana 35 axle shaft and what happens to it. Standard/OE and 1541H Dana 35 axle shafts have more surface hardening so they hold up well to its raceless bearings.
This shows the Dana 44's outer bearing which has an inner race which is why chromoly shafts work well in a
Dana 44.
I bought a Currie lift from them earlier this year and they were very good to deal with. I would use them again.
I have tried to get John involved on the site but apparently he is too busy..must suck to have to work during the day
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