If you read what NSA said, they would repair the old U-joint coupler under the lifetime warranty. The $400 would be to replace the coupling with the new design which would also require replacing the "head" or the braking section. In that case it would be a new tow bar except for the telescoping arms. There seems to be a misunderstanding on someone's part. On my tow bar, the head was seeping oil. When I asked about, they immediately said to send it back and they would repair it. They let me remove the head from the rest of the bar for easier shipping and repaired it promptly. I found them very easy to work with.