So, I thought I would let everyone know how my experience has been dealing with Banks Power in Azuza, CA. I dropped my jeep off on July 27th to have the sidewinder turbo kit and monster exhaust installed. The salesman Chuck said they would need to keep it 2 weeks to take pictures for the install manual. After getting no return calls from Barbara in the install dept. I drove up there to get my jeep at the 2.5 week mark. They were confused why I was there and asked who called me. I told Barbara that I have called over and over and I wanted my jeep. They sent me to the shop area were I was greeted by an engineer and Andrew Banks. I was told to give them until Friday to finish the work. Friday I was told it was done and they left it out front for me to pick up. The following day (Saturday) I started getting traction control lights and my electronic throttle control would go off and I would have to pull over and turn the jeep off then back on. I could not get anyone to return my calls at Banks.
Upon inspection of the work, I noticed they installed a 3inch bump stop on the front axle to keep the down pipe from hitting the front drive shaft. Did I mention this was a stock suspension jeep? I cannot put my finger between the bump stop and the top foam bounce pad. They also used a rose bud to heat the down pipe and hammer it flat to give clearance to the front drive shaft. What company sells a product they have NEVER put on a stock vehicle?? They also removed a stock cross member to move the crossover pipe down a little. After posting on their facebook page about our issue, I got a call from Jeff in tech support and they now have our jeep back in their shop to try and figure out the issues. This is going on week 6 of no jeep and I have had to order a lift kit to get some clearance back and have the jeep drive able.

Some info on the jeep:
2011 JK Unlimited
3.8 v6
metalcloak fenders front and rear
5.13 gears front and rear
37" toyo's
stock suspension

Anybody have any thoughts on what to do? I dropped $6100 to have Banks do this work and have now had to spend another $3300 to order a lift. It is hard to get a reply from anyone at Banks that has any authority to do anything.

If anyone is thinking of this kit, DO NOT DO IT!!!!!!

 

Thanks for the info on your issues with Banks. Hopefully they are able to resolve this for you and maybe some of your cost for the lift kit.

 

me too, I was not planning on installing a lift kit at all. I would have never expected this from Banks....just wanted everyone to know so they don't get hosed by them.

 

Sorry to hear about your troubles.

Why did you go with Banks versus the Prodigy Turbo Kit?

 

I went with Banks because of their name and previous use of their products on other vehicles I have owned. I got a call yesterday from Chris B. with Banks and they found the issue with the traction control and electronic throttle. It was a vacuum leak from a hose they put on. They offered to install a 2 inch coil spacer lift and I told them no thanks. Nothing on my jeep is half assed and they are not going to start doing that. I told him I already have a kit on order through T & J performance in Orange, CA (great guys by the way) so he asked how much the lift cost. I told him and he asked if they could help by paying 1/3 Rd of the cost. At this point I'll take what I can get....but I just want my jeep fixed, running correctly and driving the way it should. Let's hope it all works out.

 

Honestly, I'd never be anywhere close to a guinea with adding boost to an engine. The few superchargers out there for JKs have an insane amount of engineering and testing hours to get everything correct. The tunes are constantly being improved. More importantly, they have the data to ensure that the system will not damage the engine.

Now, I am familiar with Banks and agree they make great stuff, but that is a huge risk you are taking as they don't make stuff for JKs. If nothing else, I would expect to have random issues pop up for quite a while.

 

I'd be livid.
I'd make them refund my money, give me a new downpipe, and undo everything else they did. that's WAY too much money for issues like this.

 

Holy crap what lift are you HAVING to get that cost $3300. Can easily be done for less. Just saying.
On another note sucks your going thru the issues. Hope it gets worked out.

 

IMHO, they should've given you a pretty decent discount for being their "guinea pig" if they've never installed their kit on a stock Jeep. But hey that's me. At least they're offering to help pay for the lift, hwich they should.

I'm curious, too, though....what lift did you order that's costing you $3300? Evo Double Throw Down? Something that uses coilover up front? Even with full long arms, etc., most good kits run under $3000 including shocks, etc. Also curious how you're running 37's on stock suspension. Pics?

 

TIMES 10 here!!!

I was a guinea pig for the Smitty Built full JKU cage. They only charged me $100 in labor to install the kit in exchange for being able to photo, measure and document the install. Sure, they had the jeep for a few days, but it worked out well. The same was done for a front coil over install. Again, labor was reduced to $100. Maybe you can get all the labor costs back?

You can run 37s on stock suspension when you don't wheel, or when you don't articulate when you do wheel. I run 7" of lift, and steel tube fenders with my 40's and I still rub on uptravel. But I get 12" of uptravel articulation.
I don't understand how coil spacers are "half assed"? You still get stock spring rates, which isn't bad.