Ram Drag link Recall

BillyBob Jim wrote:

SweetLou wrote:
If the dealer finds that your drag link is alright, they will spot weld the nuts. My question is does this interfere with future front end alignments? It just doesn't seem like a good thing.

What a drag! While they're under there maybe have them weld up all the other adjustment points like the tie rods and such.

I think Ralph Cramden is back....

SweetLou wrote:
If the dealer finds that your drag link is alright, they will spot weld the nuts. My question is does this interfere with future front end alignments? It just doesn't seem like a good thing.

What a drag! While they're under there maybe have them weld up all the other adjustment points like the tie rods and such.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"I would probably have them tack weld it. That way if it fails it is on FCA."

That is exactly what the Dealer will do if you take it in.

I know, that was my point. That way you are complying with their recall procedure.

"I would probably have them tack weld it. That way if it fails it is on FCA."

That is exactly what the Dealer will do if you take it in.

mich800 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
All it effects is centering of the steering wheel. There is a lot of discussion on this subject on the TDR.

Bottom line be sure the two nuts are tight and don't worry about it until they have replacement parts.

I am not sure that is the best advice. There must be an issue withe the design or materials/machining if they are going to lengths to spot weld until a safer version is available. Just because it is tight at the beginning of the drive is no guarantee it cannot loosen up during a drive. I wouldn’t be comfortable giving the advice to ignore something the manufacturer admits is a safety issue.

Thats my "OPINION" and i'm sticking to it!

The steering wheel will start moving off center. So it does not magically fall apart!!! Simply keep an eye on it.

My wheel was re centered when aligned at 10k or so and 55k or so later my nuts are still tight.

IdaD wrote:


What can you do other than monitor it, though? My sister had a Pilot that got caught up in that big airbag recall a few years ago. She got a letter from Honda saying there was a safety issue with her car but parts weren't available yet, and it advised her to stop driving it. The faulty water pumps on the Cummins engines were similar, basically your vehicle has a problem but no parts are available so...

I think a lot of the trouble is all the suppliers have optimized processes with the vehicle manufacturers. Basically when you run into a part replacement type recall, you can only build so many extra widgets to replace all the bad ones while still supplying parts for the new vehicles being produced.

In the scheme of things this drag link recall doesn't bother me much. In 4 years and 50,000+ miles mine shows no indication of loosening, but I periodically check it think the likelihood that something goes wrong is pretty low between now and whenever replacement parts are available. I've said many times that the one wort my truck has had has been too many recalls, but reality is recalls are a problem on a lot of newer vehicles.

I would probably have them tack weld it. That way if it fails it is on FCA. Or maybe just periodically check it. But that would be me taking the risk. I probably would not advise someone I don't really know to do the same as I have no way of knowing their risk tolerance. Plus, with my luck the one person I told that to would end up being one of the bad links.

mich800 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
All it effects is centering of the steering wheel. There is a lot of discussion on this subject on the TDR.

Bottom line be sure the two nuts are tight and don't worry about it until they have replacement parts.

I am not sure that is the best advice. There must be an issue withe the design or materials/machining if they are going to lengths to spot weld until a safer version is available. Just because it is tight at the beginning of the drive is no guarantee it cannot loosen up during a drive. I wouldn’t be comfortable giving the advice to ignore something the manufacturer admits is a safety issue.

What can you do other than monitor it, though? My sister had a Pilot that got caught up in that big airbag recall a few years ago. She got a letter from Honda saying there was a safety issue with her car but parts weren't available yet, and it advised her to stop driving it. The faulty water pumps on the Cummins engines were similar, basically your vehicle has a problem but no parts are available so...

I think a lot of the trouble is all the suppliers have optimized processes with the vehicle manufacturers. Basically when you run into a part replacement type recall, you can only build so many extra widgets to replace all the bad ones while still supplying parts for the new vehicles being produced.

In the scheme of things this drag link recall doesn't bother me much. In 4 years and 50,000+ miles mine shows no indication of loosening, but I periodically check it think the likelihood that something goes wrong is pretty low between now and whenever replacement parts are available. I've said many times that the one wort my truck has had has been too many recalls, but reality is recalls are a problem on a lot of newer vehicles.

^^^^ Especially on a public forum

Cummins12V98 wrote:
All it effects is centering of the steering wheel. There is a lot of discussion on this subject on the TDR.

Bottom line be sure the two nuts are tight and don't worry about it until they have replacement parts.

I am not sure that is the best advice. There must be an issue withe the design or materials/machining if they are going to lengths to spot weld until a safer version is available. Just because it is tight at the beginning of the drive is no guarantee it cannot loosen up during a drive. I wouldn’t be comfortable giving the advice to ignore something the manufacturer admits is a safety issue.

My NUTS have been tight for 50k.