Any front suspension problems in 2000 and up 4x4's with (GVW) rating over 8,500 lbs?

[Pit Bull]

TDR issue 27 page 66 states that for the 2000 model year the front suspension has undergone "changes" on vehicles with Gross vehicle weight rating over 8,500 lbs and the "front axle" was also changed. I was wondering if any memebers with 2000 up 4x4's with (GVW) rating over 8,500 have had any front suspension problems other then the infamous "track bar"? Does anyone also know what changes were made in 2000? If you had a problem on your 2000 up 4x4 (GVW) rating over 8,500 what was the mileage on the truck at the time of the problem and the "fix"? Before posting this thhread I also reviewed previous threads about problems on high mileage trucks and noticed that other than the "track bar" problem no one mentioned problems with their front suspension on 2000 up trucks no matter how many miles on the vehicle. I'm just curious, did Dodge fix the previous front suspension problems that I was seeing on trucks made before model year 2000?

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by Big Toy

TDR issue 27 page 66 states that for the 2000 model year the front suspension has undergone "changes" on vehicles with Gross vehicle weight rating over 8,500 lbs and the "front axle" was also changed. I was wondering if any memebers with 2000 up 4x4's with (GVW) rating over 8,500 have had any front suspension problems other then the infamous "track bar"? Does anyone also know what changes were made in 2000? If you had a problem on your 2000 up 4x4 (GVW) rating over 8,500 what was the mileage on the truck at the time of the problem and the "fix"? Before posting this thhread I also reviewed previous threads about problems on high mileage trucks and noticed that other than the "track bar" problem no one mentioned problems with their front suspension on 2000 up trucks no matter how many miles on the vehicle. I'm just curious, did Dodge fix the previous front suspension problems that I was seeing on trucks made before model year 2000?

I know everyone is watching the football games so I thought I would bring this back up to the top for another try?

 

[MikeR]

As far as I can tell the suspension is almost identical to what is on the 99 and older trucks, and the only difference being the newer caliper mounting location on the steering knuckle.

Track bar looks the same, and at over 61,000 miles on my '00 I can feel it's been getting sloppy over the last 15k miles or so.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by MikeR

As far as I can tell the suspension is almost identical to what is on the 99 and older trucks, and the only difference being the newer caliper mounting location on the steering knuckle.

Track bar looks the same, and at over 61,000 miles on my '00 I can feel it's been getting sloppy over the last 15k miles or so.

Mike

The only reason I was questioning this difference is what I read in the TDR issue 27 page 66, and the fact that DC makes improvements when design problems occur (but they don't like to talk about it because they would need to go back and fix all of the older trucks). Also from reading all of the long term mileage repairs I noticed that 2000 and up trucks did not seem to have any problems with the front suspension other then the track bars (this sounds like your problem). The fact that this thread has not gotten any responses from owners of 2000 up 4x4 trucks with (GVW) rating of over 8,500 lbs indicates that whatever DC did must have fixed most of the other problems. I would still like to know what these changes were that they indicated in the TDR.

 

[GRudy]

Front Axle

To the best of my knowledge... . and that's questionable sometimes... . the change was in the gross weight rating. My 99 has a front axle rating of 4800 lbs. the 2000 & up have a front axle gross weight rating of 5200 lbs.

I remember this because of the "discussion" I had with my salesman over installing a snow plow on my dually. Big no-no acording to DC for my 99 but ok for a 2000. Oh, and if I would have bought a cab chassie instead of a pickup it would have been ok.

That was my argument, whats the difference between the front axle of a cab chassie and a pickup... Nothing. Anyhow, 3 seasons of plowing and 49,000 miles and no problems.

 

[Ted Constantine]

I can not tell you what has changed but when I had the track bar replaced at 23k ish I talked to the front end guy. He said there is very little that is the same between my 2001. 5 and the 98 I had previously owned. He said there is much less adjustablilty in the newer ones than the older trucks. They sure look the same to me.



Ted

 

[Pit Bull]

Ted

Thanks for the response. You would think that with all of the knowledge on this site, someone would know what these changes were? I guess DC got one by everyone on this change. It look s like I am just lucky that I have a 2000 with a stronger and better designed front suspension. I guess it is better to be luck then good