Yes, I will send it to them.
I am guessing this isn't the first this happened. Hopefully they re-designed it already.

This is the matching part along with the broken one. It's obvious to me why it failed in that spot...

 

I used an IDIDIT column . and a Flaming River steering wheel and adapter in my panel

 

Was it ground out like that to clear the ball? Any chance the PO did that? (Can't think why)

 

It looks like it was done when made. It kind of looks like it was milled that way.

This picture is a little fuzzy but maybe you can see the marks in it.

 

Should I send this to just any of the tech support email addresses on their site? Is there a better way to contact them?

 

If I'm not mistaken, those shoes should be identical.

 

I would call them and ask them first how they want to handle it. They might want you to send the pictures directly to their tech person.

Their # 440-826-4488

 

I was on the Flaming River site and a tech support window popped-up. I thought maybe this would be a good way to talk to them... this was disappointing.

I saved the chat:

Jerry Support Agent

Jerry Hello, can we help answer any questions you might have?

Client Hello,
I have a column that has a broken tilt lock shoe. The column was already installed when I purchased the vehicle. The part broke off and was loose inside of the column. It got caught while turning. I disassembled it and removed the parts.

You can see a picture here: http://cimg8.ibsrv.n…7491ef9227ec4d0569fd25c88f.jpg
(I believe it is about 7 yrs old. There was a marking inside with the date.)
I think the part has a weak spot in it. I assume it's no longer made that way but I thought I should tell you what happened.

Jerry Is it a Flaming River column? I can't send you the parts. You would need to send the column back here for repair. In order to do that you need a RMA number and would have to call in for it.

Client I do not believe the column is under warranty.

Jerry I’m sure it is not under warranty, and I cant tell you if the design has changed until we look at it. We don't know the part number ir even if it is a Flaming River column yet.

Jerry Is it column shift, floor shift, what is the cone style, and tube size. If this column is already apart, you are better off just getting a new one.


Client This is the inside of the column:

http://cimg0.ibsrv.n…50b23507231f6f6ae14471cad7.jpg

Client I was contacting you to inform you of what happened. It seemed like a safety issue and thought you should know.

Jerry has closed the chat.

 

"Client This is the inside of the column:

http://cimg0.ibsrv.n…50b23507231f6f6ae14471cad7.jpg

Client I was contacting you to inform you of what happened. It seemed like a safety issue and thought you should know.

Jerry has closed the chat."


For the company (Flaming River) that's supposed to have the safe column to shut you out that way is not a good sign. I'm hoping IDIDIT would be more concerned about a safety issue.

 

The links don't work? Are those part of the chat window only, perhaps?

I doubt the tech support is really much more than an installation tech. I'd call and talk to the engineers.

 

I bet the chat guys have been instructed not to discuss safety issues. That's the keyword before he ended the chat.

 

The links were to the pics in this thread:

http://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford...69fd25c88f.jpg

http://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford...e14471cad7.jpg

 

wow.... Im somewhat speechless to a lot of these pics.

 

That could be, but the whole direction of this thread is to buy from a few domestic vendors to ensure one's safety, and then one of the vendors bugs out when the word is mentioned. Seems like they only want to mention "safety" when selling the product as opposed to fixing an issue?

 

I think it's more a question of talking to the right people at Flaming River.