PDA

View Full Version : Decided to call BRP directly...You might want to also....



MMMII
04-09-2013, 03:10 PM
Being this is my first Spyder I don't have a comparable reference point for the ball joint symptoms to understand if my Spyder is impacted or not. Since delivery of the '13s began, I've been reading through the posts about the issues and some posts say all '13s are covered under this ball joint recall. Others say it's only the limited models.

I asked my service guy at the Spyder dealer what was up and he looked up my VIN and he said that I wasn't listed any recalls so I kind of left the issue alone. I don't recognize the symptoms that others have stated but asked myself the following.. What if due to my own newness with the product, I have symptoms that I can't associate since I am in fact new to the vehicle? I think the ryde is decent but could it be better? I have certainly never felt like it was going to "dart" into another lane or anything.

Since the BRP owners website didn't list anything about the ball joints I should be ok right? Since the dealer looked it up on the computer while I was there I should be ok right? WRONG..... I decided on a whim today to call up BRP USA Customer Service 715.848.4957 and followed the prompts for recall information.

I spoke with a cat named Dave and simply asked him if he could tell me if my Spyder was impacted by the ball joint recall specifically OR if it was a blanket recall for all '13s. He didn't answer that specific question but after giving him my phone number (I don't have my VIN tattooed on my arm yet) he told me that it did apply to my Spyder.

Since the dealer will be installing my saddle bags on Friday I called to ensure that they could take care of this recall as well and seems that they only have 2 sets of the new ball joints left and are now holding 1 set for me.

It will be interesting to see how it handles on the ryde home from the dealership on Saturday..

Wish me luck!

ARtraveler
04-09-2013, 03:39 PM
Keep us posted. Dealers don't always have up to date information.

JkRbbt
04-09-2013, 03:49 PM
MMM,
I was in your shoes just a couple of weeks ago. The only Spyder experience I had was a test ride on a 2012RT when I decided to trade my 2-wheeler for a 2013 RT. Was excited when it came in, but due to weather, only rode it home at about 30mph and parked it for a couple weeks. On a sunny day, I got geared up and headed out. Scared the bejeebers out of myself. Anything over about 40mph was "exciting". 60 mph was frightful! I went back to the dealer and told him what I had read here, and he told me they just got word on the ball joints. He ordered me a pair. Couple weeks later, I checked in and he had ONE set. Said that they were mine if I wanted to bring the machine in, but they couldn't even order them right now. BRP was doling them out as they saw fit. Long story short, got the new joints and the machine is everything I hoped for, stable and steady! Loving it! Hope you have a good outcome, too! Happy riding!

Chupaca
04-09-2013, 03:51 PM
good to double check safety issues. Let us know...:popcorn:

Jeriatric
04-09-2013, 04:55 PM
Hope you never have the need for that tattoo :joke:

Bob Denman
04-09-2013, 05:28 PM
MMM, The best of luck to you; please let us know what happens next! :thumbup:

Mettlerk
04-09-2013, 06:06 PM
Being this is my first Spyder I don't have a comparable reference point for the ball joint symptoms to understand if my Spyder is impacted or not. Since delivery of the '13s began, I've been reading through the posts about the issues and some posts say all '13s are covered under this ball joint recall. Others say it's only the limited models.

I asked my service guy at the Spyder dealer what was up and he looked up my VIN and he said that I wasn't listed any recalls so I kind of left the issue alone. I don't recognize the symptoms that others have stated but asked myself the following.. What if due to my own newness with the product, I have symptoms that I can't associate since I am in fact new to the vehicle? I think the ryde is decent but could it be better? I have certainly never felt like it was going to "dart" into another lane or anything.

Since the BRP owners website didn't list anything about the ball joints I should be ok right? Since the dealer looked it up on the computer while I was there I should be ok right? WRONG..... I decided on a whim today to call up BRP USA Customer Service 715.848.4957 (tel:715.848.4957) and followed the prompts for recall information.

I spoke with a cat named Dave and simply asked him if he could tell me if my Spyder was impacted by the ball joint recall specifically OR if it was a blanket recall for all '13s. He didn't answer that specific question but after giving him my phone number (I don't have my VIN tattooed on my arm yet) he told me that it did apply to my Spyder.

Since the dealer will be installing my saddle bags on Friday I called to ensure that they could take care of this recall as well and seems that they only have 2 sets of the new ball joints left and are now holding 1 set for me.

It will be interesting to see how it handles on the ryde home from the dealership on Saturday..

Wish me luck!


I too went through the same issues you're having. But rest assured the ball joints and alignment fixed the problem. My :spyder2: rides like its on rails.

Make sure the dealer has the "new" tool to install the ball joints. My dealer called me in to replace them and found out they didn't have the right tool. Took about 3 days for them to get it, 2 hours later, I was on the road and enjoying my new ride.

NancysToy
04-09-2013, 07:16 PM
I too went through the same issues you're having. But rest assured the ball joints and alignment fixed the problem. My :spyder2: rides like its on rails.

Make sure the dealer has the "new" tool to install the ball joints. My dealer called me in to replace them and found out they didn't have the right tool. Took about 3 days for them to get it, 2 hours later, I was on the road and enjoying my new ride.
Same goes for alignment, they need the alignment struts annd some other new tools for that, too.

JKMSPYDER
04-09-2013, 08:39 PM
MMM, I got a call from my dealer about a month ago and he said my ST-S was on the recall list for the ball joints. Like you, I didn't know I needed them as I had nothing to compare it to. But after the install, I could feel a difference. Sharp turns were much crisper and overall handling was better. I had no idea what I had been missing. Let us know if you feel any difference when you get yours replaced.

MMMII
04-09-2013, 08:45 PM
MMM, I got a call from my dealer about a month ago and he said my ST-S was on the recall list for the ball joints. Like you, I didn't know I needed them as I had nothing to compare it to. But after the install, I could feel a difference. Sharp turns were much crisper and overall handling was better. I had no idea what I had been missing. Let us know if you feel any difference when you get yours replaced.

Now I'm looking forward to it! Is an alignment part of he recall procedure?

weapon
04-10-2013, 07:49 AM
My STS also received the new ball joints.
It handles better than my old 09 GS.

MMMII
04-14-2013, 03:42 AM
Well, got the saddlebags and ball joints installed. I decided to take it out for a 130ish mile ride to nowhere to see if I could notice the difference.

The only thing I notice is that at freeway+ speed, it tracks better. Not sure if that makes sense or not but the only way I can think to explain it..

Green RSS
04-17-2013, 04:27 PM
I talked to my dealer today about the ball joints (I don't have any issues with the handling currently). They told me that mine was fine from how it handled during the test drive. I agree with them as it does not have any of the issues others have described. They still offered to replace the ball joints, if I wanted them to. I passed for right now. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". :thumbup:

Zenagirl
04-20-2013, 10:45 AM
I too went through the same issues you're having. But rest assured the ball joints and alignment fixed the problem. My :spyder2: rides like its on rails.

Make sure the dealer has the "new" tool to install the ball joints. My dealer called me in to replace them and found out they didn't have the right tool. Took about 3 days for them to get it, 2 hours later, I was on the road and enjoying my new ride.

Did it really only take 2 hours to replace your ball joints? I asked my dealer how long it would take for mine to be replaced and was told that it would increase my 600 mile checkup from a couple of hours to all day. HATE to sit at the dealer all day (but it is an hour away from my home, that'd be 4 hrs out of someone else's day otherwise), so sit I'd have to do. :rolleyes:

JKMSPYDER
04-21-2013, 11:52 AM
It took my dealer less than 2 hrs. to replace my ball joints.