New steering kit recall

[seafish]

Which pics are the new part and which pics the old? Sorry I can't see the difference in "bends". Thanks

 

[MickeyMiller]

EDankievitch, thank you for the picture! It confirms that I do actually have the updated package... . would have been really ****'d to have gone through this and installed a re-called part! BTW, Seafish, the new parts are in the pictures on the left, the defective part is the unthreaded tie rod end with the straight shank in the photo on the right. The updated part has a tweek up and in, slightly changing the range of movement available to the tie rod joint.

 

[seafish]

Thanks... I'll check my truck tommorrow to see which I have.

 

[Matt400]

Matt,

Is there any way you can wait for a week or so before you spend anymore money on the replacement parts.

So today I tried to buy the parts and now they don't want to sell them to me because those part numbers fall under a safety recall, said service dept will do if for me... so my call was transferred & service says my vin is not listed so can't do it and to just buy the parts if I need them. , I said I tried that so they said . . I can't help you.



**maximum patience testing is now in progress**

 

[sag2]

Matt, what dealer?

 

[Matt400]

I have tried Geweke Dodge in Lodi (now closed)

Mother Lode Motors in Sonora and Elk Grove Dodge in Sac.

Did your Dealer ever establish how to handle the 18,000 kits that were recalled?

 

[EZeis]

Any new information surface on this topic?



Do the updated parts solve any issues with wandering or just the death wobble? I only have wandering that started at about 15k or so. Dealer said nothing is wrong.



Thanks,

Earl

 

[Matt400]

Which pics are the new part and which pics the old? Sorry I can't see the difference in "bends". Thanks

It is a little hard to tell but if you lay something that is straight like a metal tape or screwdriver across the round joint cap where a grease fitting would normally go. . the recalled part is parallel with the large threads and the replacement is off a little, about 10 degrees so when the tie rod drops there is less chance of pinch on the pitman arm.



Notice in EDankievitch's pic below he has a straight edge on the left, if the new part was in this pic the round cap at the ball joint would be canted to the right a little.

#ad




Now for some interesting speculation. . :-laf



Chrysler comes up with this new style steering as a better idea, employs it on the later 08s & newer trucks and during the engineering process sees a redesign of the pitman arm will be needed also. All is good in the (engineering department) and new trucks start coming equipped that way.



Chrysler then decides this steering system should be used as an "update" to 03 through early 08's anytime a tie rod needs replacement or death wobble is reported so packages the steering links as a "complete kit".

To make sure its good to go it is installed on an older truck for testing and during that testing they discovered a sever pinch point as the linkage / axle drops in a tight turn causing the tie rod to pry itself out and off of the ball stud. When that happens the wheels now not connected over stresses the damper bracket and it slips.



Safety reports the failure and everyone scrambles for the fix on this "new steering linkage" kit that is also being factory installed whoa! we gotta change that, pics are taken and investigated. . we need a more HD damper bracket that wont slip and a tie rod with some more clearance to the pitman arm so 36,000 + trucks and 18,000 kits are recalled.



But... someone dropped the ball, poor communication or whatever and the different pitman arm was not installed on the test truck and since the arm is most likely a different vendor was also not included in the steering kits.

That old arm creates a much more sever pinch possibility.



Pure speculation but it's possible the 36,000 + trucks recalled is all for nothing, the different damper bracket was never needed and had the 08-09 pitman arm been installed on the test truck and included in the kits that the 18,000 kits would also not have needed a recall either.

Pure waste of money and another addition to their financial troubles as I am sure the linkage vendor is not taking these parts back, after all they do not design their sockets to operate past their intended sweep.



The different angles of the pitman arm with the new steering can be seen here. Notice how the old pitman arm requires a tighter turn down on the tie rod as the opposite side of the pinch area has the rubber boot extended more than when it is mounted to the new style pitman arm.

 

[seafish]

Matt, thanks for the info and informed speculation... I just went out and checked the tie rod end on my truck--it seems to have a slight camber to the right (or down), probbly even less then 10*, but perceptibly there. ALSO, when the dealer did the upgrade under my extended warranty, I PAID for the new Pitman arm and had them install it at the same time. The dealer didn't think it was necessary, but now it seems that it was a really GOOD idea. Of course, I made the decision to do it based on what TDR members were talking about AND doing even BEFORE the recall.



See here, post #11 (thanks Bob 4x4)-

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...cussions/205860-08-steering-upgrade-pics.html



Another GREAT reason to belong to TDR!!!

 

[Matt400]

Sounds like you got a good kit C. Fish, I finally did get mine changed out but since I had also initially installed the newer pitman arm I may have been fine all along with the straight tie rod & not so beefy damper bracket.

Did you see if a 13mm or 1/2" wrench fits your damper U bolts?

 

[seafish]

Sounds like you got a good kit C. Fish, I finally did get mine changed out but since I had also initially installed the newer pitman arm I may have been fine all along with the straight tie rod & not so beefy damper bracket.

Did you see if a 13mm or 1/2" wrench fits your damper U bolts?

Matt, the bolts on the damper U brackets are 15mm (bigger then 9/16, smaller then 5/8), as are the bolts on the clamp that holds the tir rod end to the tie rod.

 

[Matt400]

Yep. . thats the newer stuff.

 

[seafish]

Yep. . thats the newer stuff.

Well, my guess is that I would have gotten the older, recalled parts if I hadn't taken my time trying to decide between a DSS or a Defiant Steering box support. It's good to know that procrastination SOMETIMES pays off... . :-laf

 

[boatpuller]

Just got my upgrade kit, kind of off topic but did your kits come with new nuts for the tierod attachments, there were no nuts for them or the stabilizer attachment in the box with mine. Do I complain,or just order them.

Thanks,

 

[MickeyMiller]

Mine didn't come with the steering damper stud nut either... it takes a metric M12 X 1. 75 nut. All the rest of the elements had nuts in place.

 

[seafish]

Sorry, don't know how to answer those questions as i had the parts ordered and the work done under extended warranty; I never saw the parts until they were installed on the truck. BUT, I'll bet that Matt or somenone else will know.

 

[EDankievitch]

Ok, so here is the latest. The parts kits are still not part of the recall as of today Feb 23. The replacement parst should come with all the Nuts bolts needed to install them. The Tierod end and the Dampener brackett both cost about $75, there is no reason that any dealer will not sell you these parts. the part numbers are:::CBD1H361 for the Dampener brackett and CBFAH362 for the drag link tierod end.



The problem is made worse when the 08 and newer pitment arm is used. to see what I mean make a hard left turn and keep the wheel hard left, now look at the tierod end (steering box end) you will see the extream angle the joint is on.





The rep's at Chrysler told me there is "no recall" on the repair kits, maybe some time in the future there will be but not now... ... . Nothing like letting the cust hang in the wind..... #@$%!

 

[Matt400]

The rep's at Chrysler told me there is "no recall" on the repair kits

There is, they just don't know how to handle it.

Go here ODI - Office of Defects Investigation and then plug this number 09E001000 into the search box.

Then you can click "print version" and print a copy for your Dealer. This way they will have a copy of what Chrysler has issued and notified NHTSA on the 6th of Jan.

 

[EDankievitch]

Did that already, even sent a copy of that letter to Cust serv at Chrysler. As per Chrysler there is NO REcall at this time on these parts! I have spent many hours talking with many "Supervisors" about this and this is the only answer they will give... .

 

[Matt400]

:-laf thats hilarious, you should ask them... well then, who submitted that notice to the NHTSA? ohh look, why its Chrysler LLC, is that not you?



It was that notice and my receipt showing my purchase of the recalled kit that worked for me. I hope you get resolution soon.