2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission '02 front end rebuild ?'s

[bbodammer]

Hey all,



Recently took my truck in for an alignment and they said I needed 3k worth of front end repair. Likely story and common problems for all I'm sure. I've done the ball joints before but this time I'll be doing it all. Needed some suggestions on the hub assemblies and track bars and all that crap. It is starting to get a lot of play in it. The abs and brake lights are on and the spedometer jumps around sometimes. I've replaced all the abs sensors and narrowed it down to the hubs having too much play It has 130k on it and I plow snow too. I also run 18x9 rims and big toyo tires on it in the summer. I want to really tighten this up. Does the kit from genos work well for replacing all the link bars and such? Just looking to start buying all the parts and tearing into this fairly quick. Thanks!!

 

[DLangford]

As someone said on the forum here at one time, the design of our Dodge front ends is worthy of a class action law suit!

The big thing is the basic engineering/design which allows looseness over time effecting performance and possibly safety (death wobble).

If you do a search on here for death wobble, you will read a lot of good information about front end looseness/repairs. This looseness causes the death wobble and although you don't mention you have had it, it is all pertinent stuff.

I can't comment on the hubs, but I do know the stock track bar is junk. I would recommend the Solid Steel track bar; it is an improved third gen design with a bracket to adapt it to our second gen trucks. I got mine from Source Automotive.

I also put a DSS on, they are also available from Source and BD. Between those two things the steering is much better, a more solid feeling and no wobble. Of the two the track bar was the most important. Both are easy installs, although you need an assistant with the track bar because the steering can get "off" due to the slop in the system, and the assistant moves the steering back and forth to help you get the track bar fitted up in place properly.

Finally, when I did my original underneath inspection with an assistant rotating the steering wheel back and forth with the engine off, I also found looseness in a tie rod end and a leaking steering damper. Both easy to replace. I also decided to replace my OEM shocks with Bilstein, and noticed that the original shocks had weakened over time, which is understandable.

One thing in closing, IMHO do not go with the Luke's Link track bar "fix". I did and it loosened up twice on me, causing the death wobble each time. If you decide to go with it because it is cheap, you need to have a schedule of crawling underneath and checking it to make sure it stays tight.

 

[Joe Mc]

I rebuilt my front end, unfortunately, a piece at a time. This "piece at a time" did show what each component yielded in the way of improvement. Bottom line, if you can do all at once you don't have as many up/down trips from under the truck to the tool box . . .



Here goes:

Top Gunz - 2" steel leveling spacers.

2" 94-02 Dodge Ram 2500/3500 4x4 Leveling Lift Kit - Top Gun Customz



Bilsteins - Blue & Yellow. TDR Group Purchase/Geno's Garage for like $69/set of 2



3 Moog track bars - Local Parts House - thankfully the part was lifetime however short that is? - of course since I did the R & R labor isn't part of the "lifetime" depending on how long I live.



Tie rod & drag link ends - Moog Local Parts House - still tight after 60k.



New stabilizer shock - OEM replacement type.



Upper & Lower Tubular Control Arms - Top Gunz Customs

Custom Length Control Arms 94-02 Dodge Ram 2500 4x4 - Top Gun Customz



Front Bearing Assy, both sides - Local Parts House - ? Manufacturer Moog possibly?



Steering Stabilizer - Noticed a bit of play in the sector shaft.

Solid Steel. biz



3rd Gen Adj Track Bar (tired of changing the Moog Lifetime - HA! - units).

Solid Steel. biz



And Most recently, as in this week: Maxx sway bar end links front and back - Geno's Garage + Energy Suspension sway bar mount grease-able bushing/mounts also front and back - these were had from the local Speed Shop @ $22/kit. If you choose to order/if they have in stock you only need to provide the diameter of your sway bars - mine (I think are typical of most of our trucks) were 24mm (rear) and 32mm (front) also see this post for actual part numbers



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...7-maxx-sway-bar-links-installed-question.html



Just scan through to my posts to find part numbers and the last post by me gives a bit wordy of an installation process.



Hope this helps - I've felt your pain and now I'm sailing smooth!