Trackbar, Liftpump, etc...

[Huntmastr1]

Well as you will see from my signature I am on my 2nd 4X4.

The 98 had 2 track bars replaced at under 100K miles. I put a Linstaed Track bar on at 110K and sold it at 154K. I diagnosed the track bar myself each time. This truck did see some offroad use.

Now for the 2001. It has 35K on it as I write this and I am waiting on Lukes link to arrive. My factory track bar moves at least 1/4 of an inch. This truck has never seen worse that a Houston street. (which can be terrible)

The track bar issue is real and they do wear out without abuse.



As far as the lift pump goes, Lost one on the 98 at around 84K. Lost the injector pump at 105K. Any relation? I'll leave that to your discretion.

 

[tragicwagon]

ACTIONS TO BE DONE



After some research, Here is what can be done if people have a legitamate complaint(Track Bar, Lift Pump, Steering Box, etc. ). (Fuel pumps) are on the list for safety recalls. File a complaint with NHTSA. From there web site this was found.

If you think you have an auto safety problem, reporting it to NHTSA is an important first step. If the agency receives similar reports from a number of people, this frequently indicates that a safety-related defect may exist...

If interested go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/ivoq/default.htm



If you think DC should have to stand behind their products, heres a way that might work. It only takes a few minutes to fill out and you can do more than one problem at a time. With TDR's 11000 plus members, that would be a strong voice.

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

reply

the link didn't work.



Gary

 

[tragicwagon]

sorry for that. now try it.

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

reply

post a new topic with that link in every forum to get everyones attention better. i submitted mine.



Gary

 

[DDrenkhahn]

WyoJim



Sounds like your a completely satisfied customer. That's great, but some of us have had, and continue to have, steering problems. The dealership(s) have been no help to me. However, my AGR steering box has made a tremendous improvement. If these trucks are so damn Ram Tough, then you should be able to turn the steering wheel with the truck sitting still on the pavement. If you can't do this without a failure, then how can you expect it to last off-road?

 

[WyoJim]

DDrenkhahn... . I am happier than a pig in s**t with my truck and it steers fantastic. 67000 miles is all thats on it, but it just goes and goes.



Altho I do think that a lot of my problem with not having any whacko steering is our Wyoming highways. They are all smooth, like they were just finished yesterday. No pot holes, no chuck holes, no rough spots, NONE!! But I do go back east every year so that ought to wear something out.



See that other thread where the guy has all his repairs listed for a 98. 5 with 310,000 miles and he don't list a track bar or steering box. Maybe most of you guys trucks were made in a bad year.

 

[Pit Bull]

Bought the truck with the 100K bumper to bumper warranty. I'm retired and not in a hurry to get anywhere and nothing better to do then bug the dealer if needed. If it breaks the dealer can tow it in and fix it. If it breaks a lot, before the 100K warranty is up I will trade for a new one. You just watch, since this is my circumstance I will never have a problem. If I didn't have the time or the extended warranty it would break all of the time. Isn't that the way life is?

 

[merryman]

I am with Wyojim;

I am in my 2nd Ram (total miles over 150K with zero steering or related problems and my year allways involves a few eastern oregon backroad/off road trips, as well as lots of miles towing a 12K fiver--just back from a 5K trip to Az. , and since I drive my wifes near new Buick regularly, I think I would notice if the truck was wandering around.

The 93 required work on both the 5 speed transmission and the diff. Other than those repairs, neither truck has ever been back to the dealer after delivery----- sort of like the copper top battery; they just go and go.

The 01 4 X 4 with 37K miles has had nothing but oil and filter changes (other than optional add ons - guages, 2 low switch, mag hytec diff cover etc) and both got amsoil in diffs. early on.



I really wonder whether the complaints involve a substantial percentage of the trucks out there. I suspect most buyers are more me and Jim..... happy driving with few problems



Vaughn

 

[speedracer]

I am overall quite satisfied with my truck, BUT... my lift pump is going out. And the ONLY reason I know this is because reading about all the problems with them on TDR convinced me to install a fuel pressure gauge, which showed low pressure. Otherwise I wouldn't have had a clue until after the lift pump completely failed possibly/probably taking the injection pump with it. And if it took long enough, it'd be on my $. And no, I did not 'bomb the hell' out of my truck.



It annoys me that I have to spend significant amounts of my $ to protect myself from poor design on DC's part. If even a halfassed amateur mechanic like me knows that an electric pump is happier pushing than pulling, then honest-to-god engineers sure should have known better.

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

It could be a regional thing. I know i saw something where DC had to buy back all the dodge ram 2500 4x4 from the state park department of a state up north ( i was thinking it was delaware) The trucks could not take the beating that the trails had. It was a large number of trucks that were defective. They had a few people get hurt in them. The front ends would fall apart, DC said they never seen anything like that before.



Gary

 

[Goddard]

my 0.02

though some of it might be luck my 01 with 30,000 has had the ball joints replaced both sides, and the track bar @ 28,000. also they replaced the right side spindle and bearings at the same time. too many people are having problems with these trucks for it to be an isolated thing! as far as the lift pump i should have gauges by the end of the month hopefully and then we will get into that subject these are just my facts and opinions

 

[Silver Bullet Ram]

did the older style ram trucks have all these problems? Dana makes (or used to) make a good axle. I think when i service my truck this weekend i am going to check things out and do a lot of greasing.



Gary