Track bar sheared off at the weld. I feel like I’m cursed with my new JL

[Killed by Death]

I just checked mine which was rebuilt 3/28 after my original one failed inspection. All of my welds around that area look perfect and all the welds on that side have been marked with a bright color marker. It looks like the weld issues are being addressed moving forward for those thinking about canceling. Unless they’ve been marking all those welds from the beginning.

Thats sad Jeep has to assign someone to mark welds with a pen to assure its done correctly.

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[cnyjl]

Jeep is likely not inspecting as frequently as they should. I know someone that worked, retired now, at the Honda Accord plant in Ohio and he said that Honda has reduced the number of rejections due to lowering the bar on inspections. Employees cant stop the line for flaws like they used to be able to do.

I think 30,000 jeeps instead of 2,500 being stuck in Toledo is a sign they are aware of the weld issue and addressed it on new ones being built but are checking every single one already built before it gets shipped. It's a new jeep on a new line and doesn't really correlate to what Honda is doing on an established line. They obviously all want to produce as many vehicles they can with as few personnel as they can and as few stoppages as they can, but bad welds on steering and suspension components raises this to a whole new level and subjects them to millions of dollars of lawsuit losses on every one that slips through.

 

[Hakkodapow]

I just checked mine which was rebuilt 3/28 after my original one failed inspection. All of my welds around that area look perfect and all the welds on that side have been marked with a bright color marker. It looks like the weld issues are being addressed moving forward for those thinking about canceling. Unless they’ve been marking all those welds from the beginning.

I'd like to see your frame welds those are the axles which are DANA and not whoever the frame supplier is.

 

[cnyjl]

Thats sad Jeep has to assign someone to mark welds with a pen to assure its done correctly.

True but isn't this a case of humans checking robotic welding? If some parts weren't getting welded in all the spots all the time, then isn't that a robot software glitch? Maybe they fixed the glitch but now are just checking every one that's built to confirm the software is right. I would rather it be that way then not checking at all and just saying it's been addressed.

 

[crazyone77]

Just eyeballed mine, built 3-18, no marks of an inspection but all welds look good.

B

 

[HardRock]

Thanks everyone. Still in disbelief with the situation. Dealer just sent some pics over.

OMG !!!! That is insane. What’s up Toledo!!??

 

[HardRock]

Just eyeballed mine, built 3-18, no marks of an inspection but all welds look good.

B

The top one doesn’t look good...

 

[cnyjl]

I'd like to see your frame welds those are the axles which are DANA and not whoever the frame supplier is.

You're right, their welds are superior without a doubt. I did what I could with a flashlight and my phone. The weld on the pitman arm side seems fine, normal thickness and continues around the bottom frame edge. On the tire side, it's welded, but the weld is thinner and doesn't continue around the bottom edge.

 

[DetroitJL]

From my perspective looking at those pictures the whole side of the bracket (side closest to the spring) was NEVER welded (Picture #1 & #2) That would create a point-stress concentration on the perpendicular two welds on the "surface closest" to the viewer. Result would be a progessive failure/rip similar to a "zipper".along those welds.

That's sure what it looks like to me too. That'll be first order of business to check when I'm picking up mine.

 

[Hakkodapow]

You're right, their welds are superior without a doubt. I did what I could with a flashlight and my phone. The weld on the pitman arm side seems fine, normal thickness and continues around the bottom frame edge. On the tire side, it's welded, but the weld is thinner and doesn't continue around the bottom edge.

Thank you for the photos. Those welds look a little better than those posted by others.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

I think 30,000 jeeps instead of 2,500 being stuck in Toledo is a sign they are aware of the weld issue and addressed it on new ones being built but are checking every single one already built before it gets shipped. It's a new jeep on a new line and doesn't really correlate to what Honda is doing on an established line. They obviously all want to produce as many vehicles they can with as few personnel as they can and as few stoppages as they can, but bad welds on steering and suspension components raises this to a whole new level and subjects them to millions of dollars of lawsuit losses on every one that slips through.

I get what you are saying, but I think the opposite should be happening. New production should get the highest scrutiny, not the least.
No excuse, both manufactures should know how to build an incredibly solid vehicle. It is the manufactures choice whether to give employees the power to do great or just okay. Now you know why the attitudes are the way the are with employees. I get frustrated when my quality of work is lowered due to management decisions. It is kinda why I just got a new job too.

 

[crik]

FTFY (Fixed that for you) when you have experience under your belt you find a way to get home.

So you would have crawled underneath your Jeep on the highway and done what? Take pictures? Fix the broken weld then and there and never posted about the problem because you are a "true Jeeper"?

What was this Jeeper supposed to do? I love the fact that you are trying to shame people (not true jeepers) because their Jeeps suffer catastrophic failures. I guess that's just a jeep thing, right?

I, for one, am on this forum to learn, and I think most members are. The only thing I've learned from your posts in this thread is what kind of person you are, JK builds under your belt or not.

 

[cnyjl]

So for you guys that understand good welding (not me), what are the ramifications for taking your jeep to a good welding shop and having the welds replaced /reinforced on that trackbar mount? Does all of the old weld material have to be removed or can new welds be placed over/alongside those and new weld where there isn't any material? I assume the weld areas have to be ground down to bare metal first. I know it's bs to even be discussing repairing a factory defect, but the lives of my family are more important to me than a couple hundred dollars to make sure that trackbar mount is safe. And I do a lot of interstate driving at speeds over 70. I apologize in advance for my total lack of welding knowledge. Thoughts?

 

[tcadaniel]

I hope they buy mine back for bad welds. I want the proximity key on my next one. lol.

 

[mwilk012]

So for you guys that understand good welding (not me), what are the ramifications for taking your jeep to a good welding shop and having the welds replaced /reinforced on that trackbar mount? Does all of the old weld material have to be removed or can new welds be placed over/alongside those and new weld where there isn't any material? I assume the weld areas have to be ground down to bare metal first. I know it's bs to even be discussing repairing a factory defect, but the lives of my family are more important to me than a couple hundred dollars to make sure that trackbar mount is safe. And I do a lot of interstate driving at speeds over 70. I apologize in advance for my total lack of welding knowledge. Thoughts?

It depends on the cause of failure for the welds. Not going to get technical on welds, but if there are gaps where the weld simply missed, then it should be a simple fix. If the weld itself is defunct, it should be removed with a grinder to replace the defective portion. In any case, the paint and/or rust absolutely MUST be removed first. If a defective weld is not removed but simply built upon, the failure will still occur at the same location.

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