Tires & Drag Link

[Al Smith]

'18 CCLB - Got notice for the drag link. Took it to a dealer. They welded, without asking first. I didn't realize there was a recall until I saw it here and went to Ram site. I had violent shaking into the steering wheel. At first I thought just alignment, since this started out of the blue after a 2k trip. Dealer said the shaking was because the front Nexen tires were having a belt separation. I checked the tires myself, and did find some minor waves - 1 on each tire. I had to really run my hands over the sidewall. I couldn't really see them. Anyway, the dealer, get this, wants to sell me 2 Generals - assuming they are AmeriTracs, for $550 OTD. Damn near pissed myself! The truck has 22109 on it, and I tow a 40' 5thtrailer at about 15k loaded, well within the specs. So, what to do for tires? I can't possibly justify $550 for 2 tires. But, I would want to get a force alignment and force balance, but how can the alignment be done now? Looking for recommendations on tires and alignment problem. I called RAM who referred me to Nexen who referred me to RAM! Looks like I'm in the middle and thrown under the train. RAM, they said, does not warranty tires, even if they're defective. Nexen blames the customer for not rotating, not balancing, not right pressures and alignments. BUT, they have had problems with the tires on the RAMs.

 

[McBroom]

Are you wanting a highway tread?
I'd have the dealership do the alignment. Since they welded it without permission. And don't let them charge for a new adjuster an lock nuts

Blue Mule

 

[IRSmart]

I’m confused. You received a recall notice in the mail, explaining that you had a recall on the truck, what the problem is, and what the fix is. You then made an appointment to drop your truck off at the dealer to have said recall completed. Dealer then completed said recall. Exactly at what point did they do anything without your permission??

 

[Al Smith]

I’m confused. You received a recall notice in the mail, explaining that you had a recall on the truck, what the problem is, and what the fix is. You then made an appointment to drop your truck off at the dealer to have said recall completed. Dealer then completed said recall. Exactly at what point did they do anything without your permission??

I understand what you're saying. I think they should have told me about the welding considering the alignment in the future. They didn't do an alignment first. I would have paid for that. I prefer to see a problem up close before repair. Its my truck and I think I should have been consulted first to make the decision for that repair.

 

[Al Smith]

I’m confused. You received a recall notice in the mail, explaining that you had a recall on the truck, what the problem is, and what the fix is. You then made an appointment to drop your truck off at the dealer to have said recall completed. Dealer then completed said recall. Exactly at what point did they do anything without your permission??

One additional thing on this - I'm 71. I've been driving for over 50 years - cars, trucks, trailers, etc. I have never had a repair done where I wasn't asked first - even warranty repairs.

 

[IRSmart]

One additional thing on this - I'm 71. I've been driving for over 50 years - cars, trucks, trailers, etc. I have never had a repair done where I wasn't asked first - even warranty repairs.

But there’s nothing to ask. You took your truck in to have a recall repaired. The weld IS the repair. Your consent was assumed when you dropped it off.

 

[Al Smith]

But there’s nothing to ask. You took your truck in to have a recall repaired. The weld IS the repair. Your consent was assumed when you dropped it off.

They did not tell me which repair had to be made - replacement or weld. You believe 1 way, I believe another. Like I said, I'm concerned about having an alignment in the future, which I'm sure I should have done or checked first given my vibration/shaking complaints. That's all. I just feel I needed to be asked. Did you ever have a plumber come in because of what you thought was a stopped drain? He looked, told you what the problem was, then let you decide. I don't know what's so complicated to understand. Just because I took the truck in for the recall doesn't mean an assumption should have been made. After all, you know what assume means.

 

[Fitz-0518]

Sorry gents but my POV, the issue is not on the customer or the dealer. This is (see the two other threads on this subject) BS manufacture, customer be damned, poor quality parts ignorance by FCA/RAM. Lump weld a defective steering part is how this manufacture says, the safety and loyalty of our customer comes first. BS. Terminate the CEO and Director of operations for gross negligence. Go to NHTSA site and fill out on line complaint form. only takes a few minutes. FCA made their defect problem worse and they will never address the correct solution of replacing the part until NHTSA smacks them. Fitz

 

[Al Smith]

Sorry gents but my POV, the issue is not on the customer or the dealer. This is (see the two other threads on this subject) BS manufacture, customer be damned, poor quality parts ignorance by FCA/RAM. Lump weld a defective steering part is how this manufacture says, the safety and loyalty of our customer comes first. BS. Terminate the CEO and Director of operations for gross negligence. Go to NHTSA site and fill out on line complaint form. only takes a few minutes. FCA made their defect problem worse and they will never address the correct solution of replacing the part until NHTSA smacks them. Fitz

Amen!

 

[IRSmart]

They did not tell me which repair had to be made - replacement or weld. You believe 1 way, I believe another. Like I said, I'm concerned about having an alignment in the future, which I'm sure I should have done or checked first given my vibration/shaking complaints. That's all. I just feel I needed to be asked. Did you ever have a plumber come in because of what you thought was a stopped drain? He looked, told you what the problem was, then let you decide. I don't know what's so complicated to understand. Just because I took the truck in for the recall doesn't mean an assumption should have been made. After all, you know what assume means.

But they didn’t have to. You took it in for a recall, the recall was performed. Your permission was not required. Your analogy is flawed. You didn’t take it to them for a problem that required diagnosing and repair at your expense. In that scenario, yes, you would be entitled to an estimate of repairs and a decision would be made on your part. This wasn’t the case here. You took it in for a clearly laid out recall, and they did what you asked them to do. I don’t get why you think they had to call you and ask you to complete it. I’m not arguing the validity of the recall itself, I think it’s BS so I replaced it myself with the 2019 drag link. My point is that you shouldn’t feel like they did anything without your permission, because they absolutely had it.

 

[lpennock]

On the tires you're lucky you got 22k out of them. I lost one at 10.5k and one at 11.5k. Don't pay the dealer for tires, go to an aftermarket dealer and get them. I discount tire did the warranty on my second one and gave me credit while I was buying the General tires I replaced them with.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

 

[Maligator]

While I don't agree with the recall "fix" in anyway shape or form. when you bring your vehicle into the service dept for a recall service. They are gonna do said recall. It's CYA for the dealership

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[stevenP]

Ditto on the violent shaking of the front end, due to the stock junk nexen tires failing. Mine was fine one day, drove perfectly, and the next it wasnt...just like that. My fronts failed at only 14k miles. Until these tires had the belts separate in them, my drag link fittings were solid as a rock. After the violent shaking, from the failed tires it came loose, and I too had to succumb to the FCA "fix".

 

[GsRAM]

Sorry gents but my POV, the issue is not on the customer or the dealer. This is (see the two other threads on this subject) BS manufacture, customer be damned, poor quality parts ignorance by FCA/RAM. Lump weld a defective steering part is how this manufacture says, the safety and loyalty of our customer comes first. BS. Terminate the CEO and Director of operations for gross negligence. Go to NHTSA site and fill out on line complaint form. only takes a few minutes. FCA made their defect problem worse and they will never address the correct solution of replacing the part until NHTSA smacks them. Fitz

I couldn't have said it any better than this. Thank you!