will dodge front ends always suck??

[Cummins Cowboy]

every dodge truck I have ever driven has had front end problems, the 2wd 95 model I first drove, had to have tie rods etc before 100k, my old first gen, that that stupid steering shaft problem as well as ball joints etc, my '02 steered like an old school bus, and had a pop in the front end that had to be fixed under warranty, my '06 they cured the school bus steering, however now they put in weak too small crappy ball joints, mine where gone before 40k and now I have some loose problem in the front end that noone and I mean noone seems to be able to figure out. you would think after having all their trucks for the last 20 years have these issues they would bring a sledge hammer to swat a fly, rather than keep making trucks with the same issues

 

[kowaliga]

It is a known fact that Dodge engineers receive a royalty for each Mopar balljoint sold. The 'Who's Who' of Geneva is rife with retired Chrysler engineers.

 

[jelag]

GUYS... . look at it this way... I just sold a 2000 F550 that had a half million miles on it... . I can't come close to telling you the countless injectors, and other issues the engine system had...

I can put at least 10 sets of ball joints in my new 08 5500 for less than 1/2 of the engine costs of that F550... Thats my story and I'm sticking too it... .

The 5500 also gets better fuel economy... . and HAS a huge front end under it with greasable ball joints... .

My 04 has 260K miles and the same front end parts... . it is a little loose but doesn't steer real bad and we see no tire wear problems... when it wanders around and starts to excessive wear the tires I'll make some changes...

It's all in the perspective... ... ... the cup is either half empty or half full.....

 

[2broke2smoke]

i must be lucky ...



the '01 front end is ALL original ...



right down to the brake pads



with 170k

 

[JDiepstra]

every dodge truck I have ever driven has had front end problems, the 2wd 95 model I first drove, had to have tie rods etc before 100k, my old first gen, that that stupid steering shaft problem as well as ball joints etc, my '02 steered like an old school bus, and had a pop in the front end that had to be fixed under warranty, my '06 they cured the school bus steering, however now they put in weak too small crappy ball joints, mine where gone before 40k and now I have some loose problem in the front end that noone and I mean noone seems to be able to figure out. you would think after having all their trucks for the last 20 years have these issues they would bring a sledge hammer to swat a fly, rather than keep making trucks with the same issues

Hey man, the big three love it when we buy their parts time and time again! #@$%! Now they are wondering why they can't make any money when they pay semi-trained monkeys $75 an hour to turn a screw.

 

[AABEN]

I will be glad to fix the front end. My friend has a ford !! I have to haul his junk in 3 tlmes. ONE little Oring out in fuel pump.

 

[Regcabguy]

Carli's got the fix for ball joints. Triple the cost,but one time labor.

 

[JasonCzerak]

I think running hte 295 nitto's with a D rating helped do in my ball joints. . but that was 30,000 miles ago. . perfectly fin now with moog parts.

OEM rotors (3rd set of pads) are going to be replaced finally. EBC slotted with yellow and green pads

 

[RVTRKN]

Hey! look on the bright side of it, you could own a GM with their front end.

 

[Got HO?]

138K on my '03 with all original balljoints & steering parts. Replaced a few pinion seals, though... ... .....

 

[LMcCary]

No worse or no better than any other truck! All fail, some because of faulty parts, But most because of abuse.

 

[hearingyourlies]

I disagree with the abuse statement. My truck is babied ... u-joint and tie-rod ends at 54k?!?!?! I'm not even close to the only one.

Come on!

 

[EDankievitch]

The Pins and bushings on my 89 lasted over 500,000 mi. This stuff on the new trucks sucks..... Only the engine and the transmission are better.

 

[betterthanstock]

There are lots of industry wide recalls of ball joints from Toyota to Jeep, etc,



The reason our trucks are low priority, is that none have actually caused an accident (or the NHTSA does not know about it) to force a recall.



Toyota recalled about 1 million trucks. They explained the joints (probably made in China) were rough handled prior to hardening, and the nicks placed on them as they tumbled in a basket of parts, were enough to gouge out the nylon socket.

 

[RVTRKN]

The Pins and bushings on my 89 lasted over 500,000 mi. This stuff on the new trucks sucks..... Only the engine and the transmission are better.

I disagree with that, the brakes, electronics, looks, power, ability and resale value. My 94 2500 brakes were the pits and the auto transmission was weak and under powered, (gasser) due to weight to power ratio. My 72 A100 was a work horse but was ugly, I drove it all over the red zone of Mt. Saint Helens after she blew her top but couldn't take it out on a date with my girlfriend.



I originally wanted to buy a 2nd gen before the 3rd gens arrived, but after an awesome Dodge show that showed off the new 3rd gen HD chassi with a 4X4 CTD, I waited for the 3rd gens. They were a lot heavier duty, and it was obvious. I had to wait unfortunately, because The Socialist Republic Of California outlawed the HO CTD until 04. Both of my 3rd gens are a better truck and if the over engineered front ends (compared to GM) on the 4X4 need repair, I'll trade that off in an instant. I have yet to have a problem on my 2500 at 50K, but if it does, a Dyna Trac will replace them. My C&C only has 20K miles so I can't compare it yet, but the same goes for it as well, it will get Dyna Trac front ends



I know the new plastics and thin metal is terrible, but what can you do about it, all other manufactures are the same except for Ford, and the F150 proves that, what a POS with way too much plastic. The thinner metal helps in keeping the weight down and the plastics has allowed them to look a lot better. I have yet to have had any issue due to materials used on my 3rd gens. I remember when the first CTD,s were tearing up the drive trains due to the high torque, (low at the time) because the engineers did not anticipate it

 

[Grizzly]

It all depends on where the trucks are made. If it's made in St. Louis, you are more likely to have more problems with any part of the truck. If it come out of Mexico, it's most likely to be much better.



I never had front end problems with my 95 nor my 05 so far. Both out of Mexico. My 95 was never in the shop for any reason. So far my current 05 had not been in the shop either.



It also depends on what you do with your truck. If do a lot 4 wheel driving in rough mountain jeep trails, your more likely to have more front end problems as well as other problems.

 

[RVTRKN]

It all depends on where the trucks are made. If it's made in St. Louis, you are more likely to have more problems with any part of the truck. If it come out of Mexico, it's most likely to be much better.



I never had front end problems with my 95 nor my 05 so far. Both out of Mexico. My 95 was never in the shop for any reason. So far my current 05 had not been in the shop either.



It also depends on what you do with your truck. If do a lot 4 wheel driving in rough mountain jeep trails, your more likely to have more front end problems as well as other problems.

Thank you UNION's! It is a sad fact, that a made in America product can suck like that. However my 94 2500, made in the USA, was a trouble free truck, except for the AC, and the person I sold it too has had the same luck with it as well. Both of my 3rd gen trucks are made in Mexico and have been trouble free except for the AC on the 04. 5, where the condenser had to be replaced at 10K miles.

 

[Shelby Griggs]

I think it is pure speculation that the point of assembly has anything to do with front end quality OR any other quality for that matter. My 2001. 5 built in St. Louis has been pretty trouble free, 200+K and I do use 4X4 quite a bit, it is a work truck.



Front end parts I assume all come from the same supplier, so I fail to see place of assembly as a valid reason for front end failure.



SHG

 

[JDinterman]

After reading this I crawled under mine to take a look and damn if the front pinion seal isn't leaking..... thanks guys!!!!! This will be the first repair in 85,000 miles. How hard is it to do on the third gens??

 

[Grizzly]

I think it is pure speculation that the point of assembly has anything to do with front end quality OR any other quality for that matter. My 2001. 5 built in St. Louis has been pretty trouble free, 200+K and I do use 4X4 quite a bit, it is a work truck.

Front end parts I assume all come from the same supplier, so I fail to see place of assembly as a valid reason for front end failure.

SHG

Well it's true! Those facts are well documented.