Drag link weld question (sorry!)

[JR]

Maybe I'm not remembering the recall correctly. Wasn't the weld supposed to be a temporary "fix" until a drag link could be sourced due to a lack of available parts at the time?

One would.think the only question would be, "has the recall been performed/completed"

 

[Grumpy8811]

Maybe I'm not remembering the recall correctly. Wasn't the weld supposed to be a temporary "fix" until a drag link could be sourced due to a lack of available parts at the time?

One would.think the only question would be, "has the recall been performed/completed"

I believe you are correct... I don't remember if it was a check and tack weld, but I don't recall if it was a replace all of them and replace if necessary or replace all of them story.
Either way it is, I checked it myself and determined there was nothing wrong with it..
FWIW No recalls have been performed on my truck. I've owned it 9 years. Mopar sends me postcards on a regular basis reminding me it has open recalls.

 

[AMink]

What is the problem, steering wheel off center, or toe out of specification? If toe is out, by how much?

All they said was the alignment could not be completed to specs.

 

[sag2]

I would get a print out from them, or a copy of the repair order stating they are not able to set it to specifications with the welded drag link. The only thing that the welded drag link affects is the ability to center the steering wheel. It has nothing to do with caster or toe.

 

[AMink]

Sooo, being retired and not minding tilting at windmills, I got on Facebook and messaged Ram. I got someone from RamCares who, after several back and forths, I asked if they were a bot or a real person because they kept asking questions that I clearly answered in the first post. I kept getting "we understand your frustration" to which I assured them they most certainly do not and continuing to ask redundant questions was not helping.

After several "go to another dealer" suggestions I called bul*&#it and was told to keep it civil. Honestly, I know whoever was on the other end has no authority to do anything so I asked for someone else. It was later in the day on the west coast and I haven't heard back. Maybe I'll hear back on Monday as to why going to another dealer is going to help this situation at all.

I also have a call into the service manager at my Ram dealer to see if they can/will push further up or if they can at least get me some financial assistance for a new part.

 

[AfterBurner]

I just had my truck in for 67A and alignment last week. Dealer called and said they couldn’t complete alignment since they couldn’t center the steering wheel. They wanted $1k + to install new drag link, then service writer said wait a minute, I can do this under the prior recall. They installed new drag link and completed the alignment under the recall at no cost to me and no harassment necessary. Surprised to hear of your troubles, compared to my experience.

 

[Cummins2014]

Maybe I'm not remembering the recall correctly. Wasn't the weld supposed to be a temporary "fix" until a drag link could be sourced due to a lack of available parts at the time?

One would.think the only question would be, "has the recall been performed/completed"

The way it went for me was , the first recall was to check it . They did mine , it checked okay . Second recall to weld , and as far as I know that WAS the final fix . IMO it was CYA to weld all the trucks under the recall . I chose not to get it welded , just kept any eye on it . About two years ago when I started reading on the forums about contacting Ramcares on the new improved drag link, I said why not . Very simple process a couple emails, a couple calls got setup with my dealer of choice . It was about two weeks later for the appointment ,and a new drag link . IMO it couldn't have been much easier .

 

[Cummins2014]

I just had my truck in for 67A and alignment last week. Dealer called and said they couldn’t complete alignment since they couldn’t center the steering wheel. They wanted $1k + to install new drag link, then service writer said wait a minute, I can do this under the prior recall. They installed new drag link and completed the alignment under the recall at no cost to me and no harassment necessary. Surprised to hear of your troubles, compared to my experience.

That should be the way it works for all these trucks that had the drag link recall ,welded or not .

 

[JR]

Second recall to weld , and as far as I know that WAS the final fix .

That's not how I remember the recall. But I also never participated in it as welding it together was a big no go for me. I ran match marks with a paint stick when the recall first came out. Never moved to this day. Never needed an alignment in 140k miles and counting. If it aint broke dont fix it.

@sag2 can you please elaborate on this?

 

[Cummins2014]

That's not how I remember the recall. But I also never participated in it as welding it together was a big no go for me. I ran match marks with a paint stick when the recall first came out. Never moved to this day. Never needed an alignment in 140k miles and counting. If it aint broke dont fix it.

@sag2 can you please elaborate on this?

I participated in the recall, other than refusing the welding . I do have it a bit wrong . I went thru my recall notices ,the first was stating the problem, but no fix yet available . Next recall was the fix I went in with no intentions of letting them weld it . The recall stated " The dealer will inspect the torque values . If the torque values meet requirement, the nuts will be welded to the adjuster sleeve. If the torque values do not meet requirement , the drag link assembly will be replaced "

I knew about the welding before I actually got my final recall , some got it sooner than others ,and there was a lot of chatter on the forums about the welding . If I remember correctly ,thinking back ,I went in for the recall with the understanding , no welding, they agreed . If they hadn't it would not have went into their shop . I was checking it prior to going in for the recall after learning about the problem , it had marks on it where the nuts lined up ,they had never moved . Anyway I remember leaving the dealership ,got out on the road ,and my steering wheel was out of align , went right back, and they fixed that . Drove it that way, periodically checking the nuts , until two years ago when I seen that Ramcares were helping getting the new improved drag link . As far as I know the welding ,as I said before was their final solution to the fix. I do know I was asked a few times going back for other recalls about getting my drag link welded , I made it clear no welding on my truck ,they didn't seem to have an issues , so it was still an open recall, and remained that way until I contacted Ramcares ,and got the new one , it will be two years in March . When I check my vin # ,the only open recall is the 67a recall now .

 

[JR]

The only Part I remain skeptical of was that the weld was considered a permanent fix by Ram. If that's the case that's really.... poor.

 

[Grumpy8811]

The only Part I remain skeptical of was that the weld was considered a permanent fix by Ram. If that's the case that's really.... poor.

I was always under the impression it was a tack weld and was only meant to be like that until a permanent solution was installed.

 

[Cummins2014]

The only Part I remain skeptical of was that the weld was considered a permanent fix by Ram. If that's the case that's really.... poor.

I'm not sure when the first recall was , didn't seem very long until I got the second for the welding fix . I do know there was never another recall that came to me, saying there was now a new improved drag link available . I knew nothing about this new improved drag link until I started reading about it on the forums . I did know the newer trucks had the improved drag link ,and you could buy one .

I'm guessing there are many trucks out there with the welded fix that have no idea about the new drag link , they don't read the forums , they got the recall , and went in ,and got it welded. I have yet to see anyone report on a forum they have got a new recall to come in ,and replace their welded drag link. There are many that have contacted Ramcares, and they have setup a replacement with a dealer of choice , like I did .

IMO that welding was the final solution , lot of chatter about it ,but if there was a later recall for a new one I sure didn't get it . I would still be driving my truck with the old drag link ,and checking it periodically ,which I did for a few years .

 

[Grumpy8811]

the recall is right here https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RCRIT-19V021-2187.pdf or here https://www.cvsa.org/wp-content/upl...019-02-Dodge-Ram-Drag-Link-Assembly-Welds.pdf

my reading was always that the recall was basically a thread torque check and a tack weld... replacement was only if the threads were unacceptable..

I never took mine in.. there was nothing wrong with it in the first place and I am totally not worried about predictions of my demise...

 

[JR]

the recall is right here https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RCRIT-19V021-2187.pdf or here https://www.cvsa.org/wp-content/upl...019-02-Dodge-Ram-Drag-Link-Assembly-Welds.pdf

my reading was always that the recall was basically a thread torque check and a tack weld... replacement was only if the threads were unacceptable..

I never took mine in.. there was nothing wrong with it in the first place and I am totally not worried about predictions of my demise...

I was just reading through that. I'd of lost the house on that one. Geez, what a poor solution.

 

[Cummins2014]

the recall is right here https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RCRIT-19V021-2187.pdf or here https://www.cvsa.org/wp-content/upl...019-02-Dodge-Ram-Drag-Link-Assembly-Welds.pdf

my reading was always that the recall was basically a thread torque check and a tack weld... replacement was only if the threads were unacceptable..

I never took mine in.. there was nothing wrong with it in the first place and I am totally not worried about predictions of my demise...

You are correct, bad torque ,new drag link , good torque, weld , end of story.

As said I did with the understanding no welding , no skin off my nose . It was a win win , bad drag link I get a new one . good drag link ,no worries , and no weld . Did some research , looks like the recall began in Jan. 2019 . My truck at that point was 5 years old . I drove it for another 4 years without issue , until I seen the Ramcares were helping get a new improved , that was March 2023.

The reasoning for me was if I sell the truck or even trade it , in good conscience I did not want an open safety recall, so either way , welded nuts or the free replacement , the truck was going to a dealer one way or the other . Now new drag link ,no open recall on my truck . I have no idea what happens when you trade a truck with an open safety recall, but in good conscience I wouldn't . I do know a friend bought this past summer, a used 2017 Ram 3500 6.7 . I checked his vin# for him , he only had the 67a recall open , so that truck was traded ,and sold with an open recall by a dealer , but it was not a safety recall . and yes the drag link was welded .

Yes there was nothing wrong with my original drag link , and no I never gave it a thought other than checking it periodically . Predictions of my demise was never a thought .

If anyone is interested there is a 36 page thread on this forum about the V06 recall ,just type in the search" Drag Link Recall ,and you can read until your hearts content .

 

[Cummins2014]

I was just reading through that. I'd of lost the house on that one. Geez, what a poor solution.

I did my best to try ,and convince you . I should have posted the link on the recall . I did have it a bit wrong on the sequence of the recall ,but not the final solution . Yes it was a very poor solution ,and unfortunately many had it done .

 

[petersonj]

Yes it was a very poor solution ,and unfortunately many had it done .

If I would have owned one of these trucks with this condition, I would have handled it the same way you did. As far as "safety", if those jam nuts loosened and the adjusting sleeve began rotating, each time the vehicle was driven the steering wheel would be in a different position when driving straight down the road. Ya think a person might notice?

- John

 

[Grumpy8811]

The reasoning for me was if I sell the truck or even trade it , in good conscience I did not want an open safety recall.

I did all the reading I was going to do when I got the first recall... went under the truck with two big wrenches and checked it myself. I'm a firm believer in Caveat Emptor.. if I wasn't the six open recalls might be be performed. They are basically much ado about nothing .

the shift thing, the water pump thing, the tailgate latch, the drag link, the lug nuts.. spare me..
as far as the emissions recall, that stuff went the way of the passenger pigeon when the DEF pump failed and it wasn't covered under warranty..

 

[Cummins2014]

If I would have owned one of these trucks with this condition, I would have handled it the same way you did. As far as "safety", if those jam nuts loosened and the adjusting sleeve began rotating, each time the vehicle was driven the steering wheel would be in a different position when driving straight down the road. Ya think a person might notice?

- John

Early on there was a thread on one of these diesel forums ,where that drag link came undone, and the steering was lost , I believe the one I saw was when they were actually pulling into a driveway , and it come apart when turning sharp ,they got lucky . There were pictures posted .