While doing a brake job this weekeng I noticed that my passenger side frame has a huge crack traveling verticly from where the rear portion of the A frame attaches to almost the top of the frame one of the tabs for the A frame attachment shows a goog sized crack as well.

has anyond heard of such a problem before?

is it possible insurance may help?

Is it totaled? I do not think welding in a area that bears the weight of the truck is good?

 

too good of a pickup to scrap- get some pics so we can see if it's do-able. Plenty of qualified welders on here...

 

Truck frames have been welded for repairs longer then any of us on this board have been driving- only high tinsel frames like Semi trucks (which have lables or plates declaring them) are not weldable.
Repairable- yes, by a qualified welder.
Insurance- good question, but it depends on your insurance. My company refused a fire claim when the trans OD solenoid shorted and smoked the main engine harness.

 

Dodge has a long history of frame cracking, but mostly on the 4X4's from 94-2002. They are easily welded.

 

ORLY?

I never heard of this...

Any pics of where I should check?

(Now that I think about it, I guarantee my '95 had a crack somewhere)

 

Here is the Picture

 

wow! that is a CRACK..... is the upper or lower flange cracked also?
as a retired welder, i would clean the crack out with a grinder, preheat and weld it with my tig, using 70s2 wire, grind flush and fish plate it with a plate in the shape of an oval. then weld the fish plate with 3/32 7018.

 

First of all, yes it can be welded, "BUT" it also needs to be "fish plated", meaning a plate of steel are bolted to frame over the welded portion. Welding takes away tinsel strength from frame.
I would contact insurance carrier first!
Good luck!!

 

Out of curiosity, why would you TIG the crack, then arc weld the fish plate? I'm not throwing stones, I just want to learn.

 

You do not "weld the fish plate"!! Take a piece of cardboard, and lay next to the frame, each side of the crack about 4 to 6 inches apart so as to have the contour of the frame. I use 3/16th to 1/4 plate. This plate "must be bolted" to your repaired frame.
Correct me if I am wrong, but your crack seems to be behind rear axle, and I am wondering if it is past the spring hanger? If so, there is no alignment problem, just a weight bearing problem. Now, do you tow a goose neck or 5er with your truck? Repair in this area is less vital than having your frame crack ahead of your spring hanger.
Please be advised that most insurance companies will not insure a welded frame. If they will it has to be by a certified welder specialized in this type of repair. Talk to your Insurance carrier. Also you may buy back your salvage if it is totaled.

 

How the heck did that happen?

 

that looks like an "A" arm to me. been jumping that truck?

 

ok, correction to WB6epp since you said to-: you weld the fish plate and that crack is just infront of the A arm for the front suspension- you're viewing from the side of the truck in that photo.
A fish plate is a name for a reinforcing plate over a seam- they are always welded. Bolting them makes the re-enforcement value almost nil.
Welding done incorrectly will take the temper out of steel, but remember the steel had to be tempered in the first place- which most auto frames are not exactly heat treated- if they are you'll see a sticker or plate on the frame- (mentioned in my last post). There is no worry about loosing a temper on a vehicle frame by welding unless it's a commercial class B or higher.

Now, a carrier WILL insure a welded frame as long as the weld is done correctly- contact the insurance carrier and see if they will cover the repair before doing it and they will let you know what needs to be done to protect your coverage after the repair- if anything.

Strange- never heard of any Dodges with frame cracking problems- that looks like rough service- plow, towing, jumping, ....Can't image you do much plowing in Texas tho...

 

I've heard of 2nd gen 4x4's cracking at the spring perch, but WOW!!!! not a 2wd, and I was thinking just a little crack starting at the A-arm mount, not the front of the truck about to fall off!

totally unrelated note: what color is your truck? I live in alvin. I've got a white 98 and a white 04

 

I dropped it off this am the body shop said they would not fix in that area because of engineered crumple zones we will see what ins says.

I travel through Alvin daily on hwy 6 to and from work and all the feed stores on the weekend truck is white on grey with home made ranch bumpers