Broke ....

jdubya · October 30, 2011

"The "Not safe" part goes back to my earlier post.

Any time that you repair a frame you take the chance of altering the "Crumple zone". The vehicle is specifically designed so that if you are in a front-end collision, the frame will collapse in such a way that will be the least likely to cause injury to the occupants. Once someone changes those dynamics by welding and/or reinforcing the frame, the chances of an injury from a serious accident increases because that crumple zone has been altered. That's why I stated that it may be difficult to find a professional that wants to accept that risk in lieu of financial compensation. "

Since I'm not a certified anything, except for being a nut case at times, I have a question to you wavery. Is the frame of these trucks actually designed to crumple on impact? I'm not doubting your word just kind of surprising to hear. I understand the crumple zone logic, especially on the unibody vehicles but I didn't think a solid frame like this would be meant to also crumple. My thoughts behind this in based on what these vehicles were intended to do (tow/haul/off-road, etc), woud seem to allow for "weak" points to be designed into this structure?

Every vehicle is tested for front (and other) impact safety. The vehicles are then rated.

The vehicle must pass a certain minimum rating.

The crumple zone isn't a weakness by any means. It is a design technique that accounts for the front end to collapse in a particular way that affords optimum protection to the passengers. If you look at your frame, you will see odd looking bends and angles that don't seem to serve a real purpose. Those bends and angles are designed so that the front end crushes to absorb the shock without crushing so far that the engine enters the cab and/or the cab is not crushed by the truck bed.

In the old days, they built frames like they build tanks. The idea was "Strength" was everything. Today's technology allows for certain (light-weight) high-tech alloys and designs that are designed to "Absorb" impact instead of resiting impact. The result may get you a truck that is crushed to smithereens in an impact but hopefully the passengers survive.

Gee....... I could have saved myself a lot of typing:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crumple_zone

BTW...... this technology is for the manufacturing of the vehicle. There is no law saying that an owner of a vehicle may not alter that vehicle. It's your vehicle.... you can do anything that you want to it. Although doing so, removes any responsibility that a manufacturer may have for injuries or death following a serious collision.

The risk comes in when a "Professional" starts making changes to the vehicle and charges the customer for those changes (especially a certified dealer). I don't know that it has ever been challenged in a courtroom but I certainly wouldn't want to be the 1st. I think the chances of that happening are about the same as the lottery. Like I said...... I would weld it on my own truck but I wouldn't do it on someone else's for any amount of money.

You should give your crumple zone rant to this guy.....

Awful Accident - 2010 Silverado Vs Semi

00Silverado4x4 · November 2, 2011

It is now Wednesday & I'm curious if the truck has returned to the OPs driveway in one piece. How much was the total for the replacement? Was the shop willing to put your aftermarket lift onto a stock frame?

To jdubya...I looked at that thread when it started. I came real close to doing that in my truck. One second of not paying attention...

bgdeer1 · November 2, 2011

It is now Wednesday & I'm curious if the truck has returned to the OPs driveway in one piece. How much was the total for the replacement? Was the shop willing to put your aftermarket lift onto a stock frame?

To jdubya...I looked at that thread when it started. I came real close to doing that in my truck. One second of not paying attention...

Well I just went into th dealer today.. truck is in shambles still.. they started moving parts over yesterday and all of today. They said it should be done friday. She's going to add up the numbers and give me a price tomorrow..

Yes they didn't put the lift back on. They believed the damage was from a faulty weld.. half the weld was good but the other half of weld didn't weld to the frame..don't know the proper word he used..

lbkthree · November 4, 2011

It is now Wednesday & I'm curious if the truck has returned to the OPs driveway in one piece. How much was the total for the replacement? Was the shop willing to put your aftermarket lift onto a stock frame?

To jdubya...I looked at that thread when it started. I came real close to doing that in my truck. One second of not paying attention...

Well I just went into th dealer today.. truck is in shambles still.. they started moving parts over yesterday and all of today. They said it should be done friday. She's going to add up the numbers and give me a price tomorrow..

Yes they didn't put the lift back on. They believed the damage was from a faulty weld.. half the weld was good but the other half of weld didn't weld to the frame..don't know the proper word he used..

Probably "off-location" weld since these are all robotic welds. The trim edge on the part could have been off but regardless of how it happened, it happened.

Are you going to have the lift put back on since they are not?

bgdeer1 · November 4, 2011

It is now Wednesday & I'm curious if the truck has returned to the OPs driveway in one piece. How much was the total for the replacement? Was the shop willing to put your aftermarket lift onto a stock frame?

To jdubya...I looked at that thread when it started. I came real close to doing that in my truck. One second of not paying attention...

Well I just went into th dealer today.. truck is in shambles still.. they started moving parts over yesterday and all of today. They said it should be done friday. She's going to add up the numbers and give me a price tomorrow..

Yes they didn't put the lift back on. They believed the damage was from a faulty weld.. half the weld was good but the other half of weld didn't weld to the frame..don't know the proper word he used..

Probably "off-location" weld since these are all robotic welds. The trim edge on the part could have been off but regardless of how it happened, it happened.

Are you going to have the lift put back on since they are not?

I apologize, they infact DID put the lift back on.. sorry doing all this on my phone..

kutzenshlagen · November 4, 2011

It is now Wednesday & I'm curious if the truck has returned to the OPs driveway in one piece. How much was the total for the replacement? Was the shop willing to put your aftermarket lift onto a stock frame?

To jdubya...I looked at that thread when it started. I came real close to doing that in my truck. One second of not paying attention...

Well I just went into th dealer today.. truck is in shambles still.. they started moving parts over yesterday and all of today. They said it should be done friday. She's going to add up the numbers and give me a price tomorrow..

Yes they didn't put the lift back on. They believed the damage was from a faulty weld.. half the weld was good but the other half of weld didn't weld to the frame..don't know the proper word he used..

Probably "off-location" weld since these are all robotic welds. The trim edge on the part could have been off but regardless of how it happened, it happened.

Are you going to have the lift put back on since they are not?

I apologize, they infact DID put the lift back on.. sorry doing all this on my phone..

GM technicians replaced the frame and then proceeded to cut the frame for the lift? I wouldn't have expected that in a million years. Then again, for 4000 you should ask them to do whatever you want done.

Stevens03 · November 4, 2011

They believed the damage was from a faulty weld.. half the weld was good but the other half of weld didn't weld to the frame

Does that mean the bill will be covered? That kind confirms fault If the evidence wasn't there, well.... but it sounds like it is

csheatz · November 5, 2011

I spend a week away and I am just lost!

Can someone please expalin in english how cutting a frame for a lift kit is ok (when looking at the whole damn picture of crumble zones, and strength) but welding on the frame is a no-no? Im sorry but I cant even start to believe that after 9 pages that a GM dealer replaced the frame with a new one, then proceeded to cut it for a lift??? and that this could not be welded without removing the motor? Maybe unbolting the motor and drive line to shift it a little.

Im sure I can find more information that says "DO NOT CUT YOUR FRAME" than I can saying "DO NOT WELD" I realize the OP was put in a hard situation, but this is all way over the top! Sorry!

wavery · November 5, 2011

I spend a week away and I am just lost!

Can someone please expalin in english how cutting a frame for a lift kit is ok (when looking at the whole damn picture of crumble zones, and strength) but welding on the frame is a no-no? Im sorry but I cant even start to believe that after 9 pages that a GM dealer replaced the frame with a new one, then proceeded to cut it for a lift??? and that this could not be welded without removing the motor? Maybe unbolting the motor and drive line to shift it a little.

Im sure I can find more information that says "DO NOT CUT YOUR FRAME" than I can saying "DO NOT WELD" I realize the OP was put in a hard situation, but this is all way over the top! Sorry!

The way that I take it (which may be wrong) is that the GM rep agreed to give this guy a new frame with no guarantee on the new frame. I think that the OP is actually paying them to reinstall the lift kit. The OP is paying all of the labor and reinstalling the lift kit is part of that.

The thing that concerns me is this....... If this weld was placed "Off-location" by the robot, one must assume that some of the trucks before and/or after this truck must have had the same "off-location" weld before this problem was discovered.

csheatz · November 6, 2011

The thing that concerns me is this....... If this weld was placed "Off-location" by the robot, one must assume that some of the trucks before and/or after this truck must have had the same "off-location" weld before this problem was discovered.

Very good point! This could be a huge issue for a few trucks, if it let go at the wrong time!

bgdeer1 · November 9, 2011

All i can say is im happy to have my truck back.. regardless of the price n all the other hassle i went to get this thing fixed..

Ugh..

wavery · November 10, 2011

All i can say is im happy to have my truck back.. regardless of the price n all the other hassle i went to get this thing fixed..

Ugh..

Glad you got your truck back and hope that you don't have any hassles with it. I think that you should count on having a few bugs...... that way you won't be dissapointed if you do. If you don't have any bugs..... it's all smooth sailing.