Found cracks in truck frame with pics

[375instroke]

Saw something hanging down on my '98 Ram.  It was the lower bracket to the Firestone air bags where the bolt broke.  Good thing I noticed.  Muffler shops don't drop gas tanks, and they weld all around back there, but the tank is right on the other side, and plastic, too.

Right side, front:


Left side, rear:


Left side, front:

[terrible one]

Wow that left side front is BAD 

[RD]

time to weld them up and reinforce them with a sturdy plate 6" fore and aft of the bolt area.

[tan top]

time to weld them up and reinforce them with a sturdy plate 6" fore and aft of the bolt area.

[chargerboy69]

Wow, I have never seen a truck frame do that.

[Todd Wilson]

Why do yo have air bags?


Todd

[375instroke]

They were there when I bought it.  It's a fleet model.  White, vinyl interior, 318, no options, ladder rack, and these air bags.  They are supposed to let you carry more weight.  I pumped them up when I loaded it up, and didn't drop them down after.  Wonder if that's what did it.  I had them at 30psi, and the instructions say not to exceed 100psi.  They allow 40lbs per psi, so they are designed to handle an additional 4000lbs.

[Todd Wilson]

They were there when I bought it.  It's a fleet model.  White, vinyl interior, 318, no options, ladder rack, and these air bags.  They are supposed to let you carry more weight.  I pumped them up when I loaded it up, and didn't drop them down after.  Wonder if that's what did it.  I had them at 30psi, and the instructions say not to exceed 100psi.  They allow 40lbs per psi, so they are designed to handle an additional 4000lbs.

Thats your problem.   The truck isnt designed to use the air bags. handling addition weight isnt a good thing. The weight put more side stress on the frame from the airbags.   I'd pull the bags off and weld the cracks and or fish plate it and go from there.


Todd

[Rolling_Thunder]

we had a diesel 3500 ram in the shop once and it has a completely destroyed shock mount...    ripped right off the frame in a much similar fashion.     

[DC_1]

No question the air bags caused that. I've seen that a couple times before. The bags are good at helping keep the back end level when loaded but I would never exceed the rated factory weight carrying capacity

[375instroke]

Never overloaded the truck.  Took the junk to the dump, and was weighed in and out for payment.  Only had 30psi in the bags.  Tiny washers on the back side, but installed as directed in the instructions.  They were there when I got the truck, and it was well used then.  I only use the truck for Home Depot and dump runs.  Nothing heavy.

[TeeWJay426]

Chances are those cracks were there when you got the truck then, or at least were already started. Just because you didn't overload it doesn't mean that it wasn't overloaded before. Why else would someone install those airbags to start with?

[Mike DC]

                                                  
                                                         
Another vote to blame the airbags for causing the damage.  It might not have done it with minor/moderate loading but I agree it looks like the truck might well have been overloaded in the past.  

The top bracket for the bags sticks out from the framerail pretty far, which means it has quite a bit of leverage on its lower attachment point when the airbag pushes up on it.  And that is exactly the kind of damage you are seeing now.  

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BTW:  the simple advice for cracks on small stuff applies to the big stuff too - before you do anything else, find the ends of the cracks and drill them out with holes so the cracks stop growing.  Then worry about fixing the areas.

I would also check ALL the airbag mounting holes for cracks, not just the ones that are showing it now.  Take off all the airbag mounting hardware and get a good look everywhere.

      

[drifter69]

I have bags on my 3500 but the placement is under the frame, not off to the side like yours. I don't like where they put your bags, bad design. I also had a 98 at one time and I remember having a aftermarket bumper rip out of the steel on me. Not sure if these trucks can handle some of the aftermarket stuff being made these days. The bumper I had on it was big and thick and I am sure if I would of hit something with it,it would have survived but the front of the truck would still have cave in anyway. I guess the jist of the story is you need to look at after mod's like a engineer.

[charger_fan_4ever]

for you guys with 4x4's especially diesels look into getting a steering stabliizer. It mouts at the pitman arm and ties the 2 front frame rails together. There is a lot of stress on the fronts especially with the heavy cummins. Front frame rails are prone to crack.