three legged Dodge cummins

[Hank Cheyne]

Now I know some here will not like this post all that well but I am none too happy with my Dodge or the dealer tonight. Had a slight problem with my 2500 4x4 cummins Dodge today. Problem goes something like this..... Pickup is a 99 with 29,000 miles and it is on it's 3rd set of front brake pads. It has always pulled to the right and gone through the right pads in a hurry. So to make a long story short the caliper wasn't floating like it should which caused way too much heat which in turn took out the wheel bearings. If you haven't had one of these apart the bearing is a 4 bolt flange pressed onto the hub so you have to buy it as a unit. I took it all apart since I am 45 miles from the dealer and took the parts to town just to be informed that I would have to go home put it back together and call the 800 number to have it towed to town if I wanted it to be fixed by the warranty. What I am trying to get across here is that I was not impressed by the way they are made and not too impressed by the dealer. On my way home I went and drove a Ford super duty... . might just switch on my way home from the pickup doctor.

 

[Joe G.]

Hank,

I don't blame you a bit. Just one more testimonial to doing all your own work if you possibly can. I got a 100K on my last set of brake pads that I installed myself. Some of these dealers I read about on this forum should be arrested for owning tools! It ain't the truck. It's the dimwits working on it. I just looked up Bonanza. You don't exactly live in a metropolitan area so I guess you don't have much choice in a dealer. Is the Ford dealer in K Falls any better? My brother-in-law thinks all the dealers in Medford are horrible too.

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[CCahill]

Having just noticed way more brake dust on my right front wheel, than on my left, I feel I might be having a similar problem... The truck seems to always be pulling to the right, crown in the road or not,that along with wandering steering and a couple of other things on my punch list... Problem being for now I can't give it to the dealer now, enjoying that Cummins too much... ... ... ...

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2001 Quad,4x4,LB,Loaded,no leather... . 65 Chevelle sedan, Hella nice driver, 53 Nash Rambler Convt,1 of 653 built,[not a Metro], GM drivtrain

 

[Hank Cheyne]

I think that this may become a very common problem for the people that experience the pull to the right when braking problem. Is the dealer Ford dealer in K falls any better you ask..... I have to say yes as this is the 1st Dodge I have owned but I am sure there are others in the area that would say no. It all boils down to personal preference.

 

[RAPID RICK]

ANY dealer would have done the same thing.
You think Lithia is bad PLEASE go TRY to deal
with Harvest Fraud (or is that ford)
Rick in K. F.

 

[Hank Cheyne]

Rick,
When you live 45 miles from town you are used to doing business a bit differently. We don't have time to be running to town just for the fun of it.

 

[MikeR]

Since it was new,my '00 Ram always developed more brake dust on the right front wheel and it also had a slight caliper dragging to the right,but oddly enough it never pulled while braking. I pointed the dust and dragging to my dealer and he replaced both calipers under warranty over two months ago. The calipers no longer drag or dust up unevenly,and thank goodness I don't get brake pull from the replacements.

-Mike

 

[Mactruck]

You might be as disapointed with the Phord's brakes. My 99 f-250 went through three sets of front pads, two rear pads and 1 set of rotors.
All by 22,000 miles!!!
No towing,just driving.

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Kevin MacGranor
2001. 5 D2500 QC SLT 4X4,Auto 295/75r16 BFG AT's, Century Cap, Bedrug. , Alpine Head & Amps w/ Boston Acoustic speakers & JL Audio Stealthbox center cushion Sub.

 

[Dane]

I'm another who sees more brake dust on the right front wheel. Seems to me too many of us are seeing it to be insignificant. I believe us who do not have brake pull yet will eventually once we fry the pads, rotor ,caliper or all the above. My guess is a design problem since this seems to be happening on the latest 2 piston calipers as well as with the older single piston design. It's time for my 10,000 mile tire rotation so I'm gonna take a real close look at the way the right VS left caliper slides/floats assembled without the pads installed. I'm hoping for a simple shade tree fix assuming I can find a difference between the right and left side. Anyone already been down this road that can shed some light?

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2001 HO 6 speed Regular Cab SLT 4x4 3. 54 anti spin 2500. Used for the daily grind and sneaking away to some secret Baja beaches toting a cabover

 

[illflem]

Hank,sounds like you may have to bite the bullet and take it to a non-dealer mechanic. If there is a Les Schwab or Midas in KF try them,they guarantee their work. If you want to have it done under warranty try Parkway in Roseburg,they've done good by me. Lithia sucks.

 

[Hank Cheyne]

Update as of tonight. Pickup was hauled to town and I recieved a call from the dealer trying to sell me some 30,000 mile crap. Didn't bite on that one at all. Wheel bearing and hub assembly was replaced but not the caliper that in my opinion caused the whole problem. After much discussion I still don't think they are going to warranty the caliper so the problem is not fixed unless they change their mind. Oh and this is the one I love... . they want me to pay $69 to bleed the brakes since that isn't covered under warranty according to them. If you want something done right bite the bullet and pay for it yourself. I should have gone with my gut feeling and gone down to the parts house, gotten the parts and fixed it myself. Think of all the extra brake fluid I would have from the $69 !!!!!!!!

 

[gibson]

The brakes can be a funny thing on any vehicle. One thing I have discovered about our Dodges is that the calipers are (not trickey), but one must be careful when putting them on. The calipers with new pads should smoothly go over the rotor. If any tugging or pushing or manipulating has to take place, take off and try again. Count your blessings if they went on with ease the first time around. It is like puttting a puzzle together, if they are not slid down just right, they will not sit as they are supposed to. It usually happens to me that one goes on with ease and the other is a real monster.