It took me a while to figure out what was going on with my 97. The rear shock mount was loose. The truck would pop in the rear, and I could not find the issue. 2 of the 3 rivets that hold the shock mount to the frame had broke, sheared but the rivet heads were still there. It took a long time to get loose enough for me to see what was going on. I welded the mount back to the frame. I have been a welder for 35 years. Here is the thing. You want the metal to be as clean as you can get it. The metal needs to be ground to a shining bare metal base, on both parts, if possible. This gives a weld with less contaminates, the more pure of a weld, the stronger it will be. The next thing is, the heating, and slow cooling process needs to be followed. Also you must use the correct weld process, with the correct welding rods, or welding wire. This should be done by up hill weld, where vertical weld is needed. Most welds or base metal that cracks, is due to an impure weld, a weld that has cooled off to fast, or a combination of the two. Through my years of welding, I have done many frames, and I never had one crack on me yet. I haven't had a weld crack on my in a very long time . Many, many years. If you weld the frame, after its clean, and you let it cool off on its own, and run the weld a little hot, oh and as long as the weld is done by someone who can make a good up hill pass, then it cools off normally, then you should be good to go. When I did my shock mount, I just turned up the amps, and made my weld, with out doing much cleaning. I used a hand wire brush, but like I said, I have been a welder for 35 years, and have been a certified welder sense, 1990.