Drag Link Recall ... Video

[dhay13]

I crawled under and checked mine yesterday. Both jam nuts are tight and there were already marks on the nuts and adjuster so that was either done at the factory or was done in the past couple of months before I bought it

 

[AFMoulton]

The recall was issued because there were multiple wrecks, in which this was the cause. Some with injuries.


2018 2500 6.4 4x4 4.10 Amsoil SS 0w-40, Softopper
Black Rhino Armory 18x9 +12mm
Cooper St MAXX LT295/70R18

2016 Durango 5.7 AWD 3.07 Amsoil SS 4 Qts 5W-30 and 3 Qts 0W-40
1996 Nissan Altima 2.4 Amsoil SS 5W-30

 

[Blindsquirrel]

I crawled under and checked mine yesterday. Both jam nuts are tight and there were already marks on the nuts and adjuster so that was either done at the factory or was done in the past couple of months before I bought it

That’s how it comes from the factory. If the fix was completed, those nuts would have been welded.

 

[Yikes1157]

The recall fix was recently completed on my 2018 Ram truck. As I understand it, the nuts coming loose is only one part of the problem. I believe the other part is checking the cut thread profile of the threads on the rods. If the outside diameter of the thread is under size there could be the possibly of the rod pulling out of the adjuster sleeve under a severe load. It would be best to make a call to your dealer and discuss this with an experienced technician.


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[Fitz-0518]

Spoke to Regional Manager today, and the RamCares escalation team. FCA is aware this is not a permanent fix, they also understand that front end alignments will not be able to be done until the new parts come out.

I was told that you can have your truck aligned at the dealer if you feel it is off and they will cover the cost until the new parts come out. I was told 3-6 months till the TSB/Recall should be issued for replacement, not welding. He didn’t sound 100% confident but did say they are working on the right, safe, long term solution. He spent about 35 minutes talking to me on the phone and seemed genuinely invested in making it right.

My service manager did agree that alignment would be taken care of and he wouldn’t have a problem with it.

This was a short term safety fix, to prevent anymore accidents/possible injuries or even death.

I’m good with what they said, and I will be following up.



2018 2500 6.4 4x4 4.10 Amsoil SS 0w-40, Softopper
Black Rhino Armory 18x9 +12mm
Cooper St MAXX LT295/70R18

2016 Durango 5.7 AWD 3.07 Amsoil SS 4 Qts 5W-30 and 3 Qts 0W-40
1996 Nissan Altima 2.4 Amsoil SS 5W-30

Excellent and helpful. Another example of how valuable this forum is. This sounds logical. Hope it follows to a reasonable correction. Side note. At some point FCA/RAM must recognize that they have a serious buyer, parts vendor and assembly problem. Must believe that it would cost less to address these three problems than what it cost to settle customer injury, reputation injury, after the fact correction cost. Put the buyers on a "vested" comp plan. Put the parts vendors on notice, you send us defective crap parts we will push the order out on the loading doc and tell accounting to stop all wire transfers. The Chinese will respond. Fitz

 

[gsfitzsr]

Not true. If the nuts come so loose that the adjuster starts spinning, the toe in/toe out will not change at all. What will start happening is the steering wheel will start getting extremely crooked. A person would have to be a complete noob to not notice this happening before **** got dangerous.

The only thing that changes the toe is the adjuster on the tie rod.

But yes, I dont understand the recall either. As far as I see it, if the nuts are tight then all is good. How fawking hard is it to tighten up two nuts?!

Your exactly right. I keep getting the toe-in and steering center adjustments mixed up.

 

[jaflowers]

Got my Synergy drag link installed this morning at my tire shop. Cost $60 so no big deal. Really can't "feel" any difference yet since I only drove it a couple miles but nice having the peace of mind that it's fixed and done right.

 

[stevenP]

Well I put off taking my truck in on this recall. Last night, while on a drive, the truck started to shake very badly like a tire was out of balance. Thought for sure my junk nexens were the culprit, but found the nuts on the drag link had come loose. So FYI look out for such a thing. It just suddenly started this shaking from out of now where.

So my truck is going to do the dealer tomorrow. They are saying that if the nuts werent loose it is a quick fix. Since mine has come loose they have to re an alighnment now and ?

 

[dhay13]

Glad you caught it. I try to check mine at least once a week. Just checked it yesterday. Hopefully they come out with a proper fix soon

 

[Fitz-0518]

The problem with the part is not the design. It is the vendor parts manufacture that cut the threads wrong,,,on some of the parts run. The taper and pitch of the thread is wrong and the nut will not stay tight. FCA, GM and Ford are experiencing these odd parts issues because they continue to spec out their parts to these third world **** makers and expect them to make the part for 19 cents. The weld fix is CRA crap. They will have a parts replacement fix for those truck effected. I sure agree with all who say that as a owner, having to check the witness marks each month is a vote of no confidence. I have been buying Dodge trucks for 33 years. They have had their fit and finish issues along with some funky styling. But in the past they were designed and built well when the manufacture owned the parts supplier. Sorry for the the take off guys. But this one really is BS.

 

[RamCares]

Well I put off taking my truck in on this recall. Last night, while on a drive, the truck started to shake very badly like a tire was out of balance. Thought for sure my junk nexens were the culprit, but found the nuts on the drag link had come loose. So FYI look out for such a thing. It just suddenly started this shaking from out of now where.

So my truck is going to do the dealer tomorrow. They are saying that if the nuts werent loose it is a quick fix. Since mine has come loose they have to re an alighnment now and ?

Hi stevenP,
We're truly sorry that you experienced this. Please send us a private message if you need any additional assistance while your truck is at the dealer. We're happy to have a case escalated in your behalf.
Lydia
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[lpfm1990]

Still waiting for a proper fix, till then, I refuse to take my truck in for this barnyard repair! 36150 miles and they are still tight and I’ll keep an eye on them, but no way is anyone welding my steering components, retro fit the new “5th gen” part to our trucks, mine might “only” been $53k brand new, but that’s. 53,000 reasons why this should be done the right way, not fixed the redneck ******** way


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[Matt1751]

I’m taking my 2018 2500 in next week for the tailgate and drag link recalls. I told them I don’t want the drag link welded. Does anyone know if I refuse to have them weld the drag link will I be able to have it replaced when an actual fix come out?

 

[G. Mcpherson]

yes it will have to be replaced.

 

[Iron Outlaw]

I had my truck leveled today and it was fine when they aligned everything. Mine is a 16 with 72000 miles. I have 4 or 5 recalls now that need fixed but I hate to let the dealer mess with it

 

[AFMoulton]

They are going to replace the drag link regardless of welding or not. The welding is a temp fix to prevent any further failures that could result in death.

I posted about it earlier in this thread. I’ve continued to follow up with FCA, and I’ve been assured by multiple people at multiple levels that, this is a temp fix, and they are working with the manufacturer to increase production on the new version to continue to cover new production trucks and replace all older vehicles as well.


2018 2500 6.4 4x4 4.10 Amsoil SS 0w-40, Softopper
Black Rhino Armory 18x9 +12mm
Cooper St MAXX LT295/70R18

2016 Durango 5.7 AWD 3.07 Amsoil SS 4 Qts 5W-30 and 3 Qts 0W-40
1996 Nissan Altima 2.4 Amsoil SS 5W-30

 

[dhay13]

The problem is if you need an alignment after it gets welded. Sure MAYBE the dealer will do it but 3rd party shops likely won't touch it. And to have my local dealer do an alignment is probably worse than not getting the drag link fixed in the first place. My daughter had her 2006 Grand Cherokee aligned a week after having a lift installed. They had it for 5 days and charged her over $500. Said they couldn't get any of the bolts out and broke them (the same bolts that were out a week earlier when the lift was installed). Not the only issue we have had with them but that is another story. Bottom lne is my local dealer is the last place I will go for any work if I can avoid it.

 

[Tumbleweed]

I just had the "recall" done today. Yup, welded the jam nuts. It will be nice when the replacement drag link is available.

 

[Iron Outlaw]

Well I put off taking my truck in on this recall. Last night, while on a drive, the truck started to shake very badly like a tire was out of balance. Thought for sure my junk nexens were the culprit, but found the nuts on the drag link had come loose. So FYI look out for such a thing. It just suddenly started this shaking from out of now where.

So my truck is going to do the dealer tomorrow. They are saying that if the nuts werent loose it is a quick fix. Since mine has come loose they have to re an alighnment now and ?

I'm not saying you are wrong but I dont understand how the drag link adjustment coming loose can cause a bounce or vibration. Mine came loose and it made my steering wheel start turning left a little more each time I drove it. Tonight I centered it again and put red lock tite on it. I got it as tight as I could. Mine happened all at once after I had an alignment. It was fine before but after they tightened it, it came loose. I'm keeping a check on it but if it does it again it will have to have it welded.

 

[Rickg880]

Got my Synergy Drag Link installed today. Contacted Ram Cares on Live chat and started the reimbursement process. Emailed receipts for Link and Install.

Please provide more details please. I bought a Synergy Drag Link and I'm having 4 Wheel Parts install it ($100 cheaper than the dealer wanted). I didn't know I could get reimbursed. Thank you.