Frame Recall Postscript. Please read.

[JonB]

PRECAUTION:

I recently had my 998 recall performed, (40k mile 96 GTS) and was surprised to find that the half-shaft and drive-shaft straps and bolts were NOT routinely covered/replaced! YIKES !!!

This surprised me......if you have over 2500 miles on them, or any real track/strip miles, you should NOT re-use these relatively cheap items. My Viper Tech even admitted that the 998-999 training indicated NOT to reuse them, but the warranty replacement does NOT include these parts. (!)

My dealership is a great one, and they DID stock and replace mine at no charge. (About $75 dealer cost? 6 straps, 12 bolts.) THANKS TIMBERLINE. The labor is nothing extra.

HOWEVER: If you are having #998 performed, MAKE ARRANGEMENTS to purchase your own parts from your dealer. (or $49 PartsRack, shipped. Thanks.) Or, see if your dealer will absorb this as mine did. DONT EXPECT THIS however. DONT REUSE THE OLD PARTS esp w/ higher miles!

And, if you have already had the work performed, especially 10K+ cars with track miles, I HOPE TO HECK you got new bolts/straps from a heads-up tech like mine.........IF NOT, do keep an eye on these items before/after track events. Street cars 'probably' OK esp w/ low miles.

I hope we can get this oversight examined and changed after VOI.

 

[Tomer]

JonB, as usual, THANKS for the great info!

I can't visualise what these straps hold? Can you give me alittle more detail? THis way I can better check with my local dealer asap, as I am about to schedule my recall work.

Tomer

 

[MiamiJeff]

For safety's sake (BUMP), if anyone ad-flames JonB, this will take care of the ******

You must be registered for see images

 

[Steve-Indy]

RIGHT ON, JonB !!! Wish I had known YOUR price before I ordered 4 sets of bolts and straps...though the MAJOR ISSUE is SAFETY. YES, I know that the service manual FIRST says NOT to reuse the bolts THEN adds that one can reuse the bolts if the old Loctite patch is removed and new Loctite is used. I have had several Viper and race techs tell me that this is OK, though I personally prefer to REPLACE the bolts. The same service manual DEFINATELY says to REPLACE the straps as they do deform with torque. Hopefully, JonB won't get any "ad flames" for his help, as the issue is SAFETY.

 

[JonB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Steve-Indy:
...YES, I know that the service manual FIRST says NOT to reuse the bolts THEN adds that one can reuse the bolts if the old Loctite patch is removed and new Loctite is used. I have had several Viper and race techs tell me that this is OK, though I personally prefer to REPLACE the bolts. The same service manual DEFINATELY says to REPLACE the straps as they do deform with torque. Hopefully, JonB won't get any "ad flames" for his help, as the issue is SAFETY. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree w/ these techs, on cars that have NOT been exposed to drag racing and road-race track days. Aggressive driving, even in the street, can deform these metal u-shaped 'straps', even at low miles. These bolted straps hold the U-joints in place on the half and drive shafts.

Im not worried about ad-flames....This was intended as a service pitch, not a sales pitch ! If dealers sell at $76, I sell $49 shipped, and save you more than I make ! THANKS

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">Thank you Jon!

I also was concerned and surprised as I had to remind my dealer about replacing the flywheel bolts, the drive shaft bolts and straps when I had my rear main seal replaced.

A bit surprising that owners need to be so diligent when it's the techs that are professionally trained. Even if D/C doesn't pay for the parts, (though I find that a bit odd given the shop manual instructions) at least the tech should suggest the opportunity to the owner...</FONT f>

 

[Steve-Indy]

UPDATE: At present, it would seem that the bolts/straps are STILL not covered under 998 recall work...odd, interesting, and worrisome in MY opinion. Having been alerted to this issue, many of our Regional members are pre-ordering their own bolts/straps to be used by the Viper Tech at the time of the recall work. I would personally suggest that those who plan to have this work done AND those who have already had the work done) should discuss same with your dealer's Viper Tech/Service *** 't BEFORE taking your car in for repair as MOST of the dealers that I have polled DO NOT routinely stock these bolts/straps.

 

[GTS Dean]

My Dodge dealer was able to do the 999 recall without removing the diff. Therefore, there is no need to replace the u-joint straps.

 

[gtsviper]

Jon
No surprise here. I have been driving Vipers since 94 and the one consistent problem that affected me most was the lack of skilled technicians to work on Vipers at the dealer. Short of the Cragins, Jenkins, Hortons and a limited number across the country, the knuckleheads that service Vipers don't have a clue that the car is not an Intrepid or a Neon. Dealers should be embarrassed and Dodge alarmed about things like this. If the dealers started dealing with Viper owners and Vipers at a professional and sophisticated level then maybe Dodge wouldn't have to develop special certificate programs like they did for the SRT programs. Viper owners would be able to trust their dealers and would buy from them accordingly. While I like dealing with Pemberton and Woodhouse, why should I have to buy a car in Nebraska when there are lots of dealers in CA where I live. With Jenkins, Horton and Cragin out of the dealers, there are virtually no skilled Viper techs left here to do the recall (and other warranty work). Maybe Dodge should start a separate division to sell and service the PVO cars.

 

[Steve-Indy]

NO SURPRISE, there, Dean...999 is front end only.

Bet you really meant to type 998....and, yes, I have also heard of working around the diff...can't give a real opinion, as I have not tried to do the recall myself. I have heard that some techs have been able to lever gas tank a little, and repair a cracked Diff. mount without removing tank...which, of course, does raise a safety issue or two. Experienced Techs are the way to go.

 

[GTS Dean]

Steve,

I did some Archive searching and came up with this one: http://vca1.viperclub.org/ubb/Forum14/HTML/011635.html

Frankly, I'm still a little confused as to which # includes which parts & procedures. At any rate, mine required a new steering rack mount to be welded in, along with the additional gussets & braces which were riveted. There was also a rear left strut installed by riveting between the upper rear diff mount and the lower frame rail, behind the halfshaft. There was no welding required at the rear of my car, and I'm fairly certain that the diff did not have to come out to install the strut. Therefore, no u-joint straps or bolts would be necessary.

 

[SteveBCloud9]

On high mileage Vipers such as yours I'd replace the entire half-shaft, not just the bolts. Call it a "scheduled maint." ESPECIALLY if you are ******* the car or do track events.... right Pablo....

I just happen.... to have a pair with 800 miles on them. Dealer wants $ 1,300/pair new. Buy one for $600 and get the other free.... just one set....

 

[Steve-Indy]

Thanks, Dean...and Steveb...I really find other viewpoints MOST valuable, especially since I am NOT a mechanic...at least, not on cars. I would add that I have discussed this bolt/strap issue with a VERY experienced Viper racing team Tech who says that he has NEVER had a failure that was caused by reuse of these components. Yet, in the Viper service manuals 1992-2002 one is warned about reuse. In my eyes, a mechanical failure in a street machine with stock safety devices on a busy highway (or worse yet, "beltway" !!!) will likely injure more people more severly than the same mechanical failure occurring in a race prepped car with full safety equipment on a race course.

SO, for a few extra bucks out of pocket, one can indeed add a little extra measure of safety (comfort level) if indeed one's propeller and half-shafts are disconnected during the recall.

NEW bolts/straps are certainly becoming a frequent request with recall 998 in central Indiana.

It all boils down to risk versus benefit ratio...especially since cost is low and VALUE potentially high, at least in MY opinion.

Other opinions WELCOME !!!

 

[GTS Dean]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by gtsviper:
Jon
No surprise here. I have been driving Vipers since 94...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Rookie!

 

[gtsviper]

Dean
I only have about 83,000 miles on 4 Vipers and am still trying to learn how to drive the thing! When do you think I'll hit the flat spot on the learning curve?

 

[GTS Dean]

Looks like a long, uphill battle for you.

Could take several more years.

 

[gtsviper]

I wish I had known about your vast experience sooner. 2 weeks ago I was running at Texas Motorsports Ranch and also TMS. You could have come out to show me the right lines.