2003 Ram 2500 front end shot

[TAK]

Looking for advice. Dealer tells me ball joints, brakes, and bearings are shot up front. Since the truck is out of warranty with 50k miles, I am interested in upgrading to better quality stuff. Also considering the Carli starter suspension if I can afford it. Does anyone know of anybody on the east coast (Boston area) that will install all this at a reasonable price? Thanks.

 

[TAK]

I should add that the vehicle is stock 4x4 Ram 2500 with 18x9 wheels and Nitto Terra Grappler 325/65 18 tires.

 

[BHanna]

There's a lot of labor involved. The silver lining I think is that you can buy all the tools to do it yourself for what the dealer would charge you in labor and next time you need all those parts (which won't be that long) you'll save a bunch of money. Of course that's only good if you like doing that kind of stuff yourself

 

[MMeier]

Those big wheels and tires didn't help much I'm sure.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I'd invest in the tools if you're going to keep the truck for a while, . . . reguardless of what TIRE size you're running.



You'll save good money if you learn to fix your own.

 

[DaveHess]

I always have a hard time understanding the failure of the front end components on some folks trucks. I am at 53,000 on the clock and the only complaint is that irritating slight pull to the right that we read so much about with 3rd Gens. FWIW, still riding on factory rubber, installed Bilstein 5100's, and the BD SBS. Otherwise stock. I also crawl over anything that even hints at being "bumpy" !

 

[Edgemann55]

I agree Dave I am at 73,000 and my front end is still tight and working fine. I went to 285's and replaced the shocks at 50,000. I think oversized tires really work on the front end. When I do need front end work I will go with the Carli 2" level kit and the ball joints. Do it once and put in the beefy parts.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I wanted the Carli ball joints untill I found out that two upper joints are $550. I'll stick to the LESS expensive ones.



Nothing last forever.

 

[AABEN]

If DODGE wanted larger tires on there trucks they would come on them. I run stock tires and have not had any trouble with my truck's also I do not jack them up.

 

[Bob4x4]

I wanted the Carli ball joints untill I found out that two upper joints are $550. I'll stick to the LESS expensive ones.



Nothing last forever.

:-laf keep telling yourself that

 

[HBarlow]

I always have a hard time understanding the failure of the front end components on some folks trucks. I am at 53,000 on the clock and the only complaint is that irritating slight pull to the right that we read so much about with 3rd Gens. FWIW, still riding on factory rubber, installed Bilstein 5100's, and the BD SBS. Otherwise stock. I also crawl over anything that even hints at being "bumpy" !

A Dodge dealer front end mechanic told me that the factory aligns the front end intentionally so that if the driver falls asleep or suffers a disabling medical condition the failsafe steering alignment takes the truck off the right shoulder and into the ditch. I was told a front end alignment could cure that with use of different alignment parameters. I had the front end realigned on my '01 and took almost all of that right pull out.

I too have been puzzled by the frequent complaints about the Dodge Ram front ends failing with so few miles. Your comments and Blackbear's in this thread have cleared it up for me. Big tires, tall lifts, and probably some off-road driving!

My old '01 Ram had all original parts in the front end except it was on the second set of seeled hub assemblies and a set of Bilstein shocks when I retired it @ 325k miles. It hasn't been touched yet. I've driven it recently, now w/350k, and it feels a little loose but it was driven hard by an employee of my son-in-law's construction company for a year or so. Ditto my high mileage '06. Hub assemblies and Bilsteins, everything else original.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

don't worry you guys keep on mouthin about no front end issues with your 3rd gens your time is coming, my ball joints went out on my 06 with under 40k on them and yes bad enough to get tire wear from it. front u joints gone at 65k along with the u joints in the front drive shaft, these trucks are going to keep the parts suppliers in business, part of me thinks the guys with 03' and 04 model don't have as much problems. after 3k in the last year in front end repairs, I am so ****** off, I may never buy another dodge

 

[STEVEBROOKS]

I guess I'm one of the "lucky" '03 owners too. I've got 103,000 miles on mine, and have all original front end parts. All ball joints/axle u-joints/steering parts/hub bearings are solid and not loose. When the truck was brand new, I drilled and tapped the drag link end/pitman arm end/sway bar links for grease fittings, and they get a shot every 3,000 miles. I recently greased the hub bearings through the ABS sensor ports with a tool I made (posted a thread about that), and plan to do that about once per year from here on. Have only had to replace one front driveshaft u-joint.



Steve

 

[mwilson]

Just an observation from one who has already replaced ball joints, etc. at 73,000 miles and DOES NOT OR HAS EVER PUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN STOCK SIZE MICHELINS ON MY TRUCK, is it possible that location and condition of the roads in various parts of the country make a huge difference in longevity??? I notice that many of you that say you have no issues live in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, etc. I drove from here to Nevada two years ago and your highways are simply amazing compared to the East Coast. The roads in the Phoenix area are a dream and I can see why the components in a truck would last just about forever. We have frost heaves, expansion joints, temperature variances from -30 to 95 degrees in the run of a year, calcium chloride applied to the roads in the winter, etc. Out there you get what, Sun and dry weather????? A little dust??? Other than dodging (or aiming) for the illegals what can cause trouble??? Scorpion guts in the middle of the road??? I did see that the ranchers appeared to be a little hard on stuff as I watched a couple of them drop off of I-40 at 65 mph and head out across the open area to find some cattle, I assume. That looked like it might be hard on front end components.

It is just an observation and there has to be more to this. A lot of us that are having trouble do not hurt our trucks. Ever.

 

[DaveHess]

mwilson: I am in North Dakota and in all fairness, my '03 is a garage queen from November through April so she doesn't see the nasty weather and roads like probably 98% of you all do. I only put about 8,500 miles a year on. This past year was only 7,000.



cumminscowboy: Wasn't meaning to be "mouthin" about the front end of my truck. I'm guessing that aggravated you. I apologize. Just trying to wrap my head around all these front end problems. I have been taking proactive steps with my truck replacing trouble areas on mine. I know I am throwing good money at good parts. I'm looking at longevity with new trucks pushing the $50,000 envelope. Just my two cents.

 

[mwilson]

I really think that the climate where the truck is located is making a huge difference for longevity of the front end components. Now if that is true, then what is the issue??? Lack of grease fittings?? Poor sealing of the components causing speedy contamination??? American Axle has made a mis-calculation at some point and needs to correct it in future models.

I know that things wear out and need replacement, I also will not turn my back on this brand of truck but improvements need to be made as there is a premature failing of steering components that needs to be addressed.

For those of you that don't know the reason my ball-joints were changed at 73,000 miles is because the right hand upper joint had FROZEN SOLID. Not slack, slop or death wobble. If you got caught in a rut on the interstate it would try to slam you into the car in the next lane or take for the breakdown lane. Now I am very mechanical and figured out pretty much what had gone wrong. I put the truck up immediately as it was not fit to drive. All of the replaced parts are in Ziploc bags in my garage waiting for the next visit by the Chrysler DSM because I am not done with this yet. Now what happens to the person who is not so inclined and keeps running the vehicle until they have an accident (and they will). The frozen ball joint also stressed other components and I have had to change the inner right hand tie rod assembly and am 99% sure that I need a steering box before the truck is right again.

SOME of these trucks are giving trouble for no apparent reason and I am concerned that some innocent is going to get hurt.