2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Will dodge wake up

[rrab1]

Guy's, Love my cummins and the truck too but enough is enough. My truck had a three year 36000 warranty and to date I have just hit over three thousand in front end repairs, my truck has 69000 on it and no off roading. Third trac bar,two sets of tie rods,two steering dampers,and now a right front axel seal,and a new steering gear box on the way, Sorry just had to vent Don

 

[GAmes]

Must have got one built on a Monday or Friday :{ :{



You may have better luck with after market parts.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

If I had to guess, I'd say it's all related to the track bar. Do the 3rd gen upgrade and be done with it.

 

[FourBarR]

get a 2wd and your troubles will be over. just had to say that . been on the board for several years now and cant help but see that most of the troubles with steering ,brakes,tire ,ball joints etc. are related to 4wd trucks. talking to owners locally who have 4wd are amazed at how little trouble I have had in 413,600kms. would not trade my 2wd for any make 4wd. I fully understand that if you need 4wd because of where you live or work there is no choice. most 4wds here are driven on dry or wet asphalt year round, and probably never see 4wd engaged. just my 2 cents.

 

[mopars1]

Hey Don, sorry to here about the repairs. Are you coming over to the GDOA meet at Edwardsville Sat the 17th?? I hope you can make it.



David

 

[BigEasy]

Guy's, Love my cummins and the truck too but enough is enough. My truck had a three year 36000 warranty and to date I have just hit over three thousand in front end repairs, my truck has 69000 on it and no off roading. Third trac bar,two sets of tie rods,two steering dampers,and now a right front axel seal,and a new steering gear box on the way, Sorry just had to vent Don

I think I'd find a new mechanic...

 

[KennethS]

My buddies have 4/4 nothing but trouble

I have had 3 two wheel drives and would not have anything else. No trouble as yet but my buddies say there next truck will be 2 wheel drive after driving mine.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Had an '01 QC 4x2 shortbed and did take it off-roading on a number of occasions, down some pretty brutal roads. Front end was tight as new with zero repairs (other than the OEM shocks that wore out pretty fast) when I traded it at 87,000 miles.

 

[RustyJC]

And there you have one of the benefits of 2WD - I'm on my 2nd 2WD dually, and it does exactly what I need it to do. No front end repairs on either truck.



Rusty

 

[rrab1]

Bigeasy,Don't think it's the mechanic when they give you all the worn out parts back it's hard to say he's incompetent, although this time I would not accept any original Dodge parts. Don

 

[FourBarR]

great to hear all the good coments about 2wd. i kinda felt lonely being in the minority with all the 4wd out there. no offence . tdr has a great bunch of guys always willing to help out,many thank for all past helps.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

Dodge calls our Rams heavy duty. What a joke. Every part I have replaced has been light duty, of course I have used heavy duty parts. They cost more which explains why dodge uses light duty. Dodge has shown themselves to be what they truly are. You pay at least 3 times as much when you buy parts from a dealer. $50 for the same fuel filter you can but for $15 at an independent repair shop. There are items that are dealer only so they soak you good. They do not care if you do not come back there is a new sucker walking through their door every few minutes. Dodge will never change, they don't have to.

 

[JStaton]

As Ive said many Times "I dont drive a DODGE because its a Dodge I drive Dodge for the Cummins Engine".

 

[Nate]

Yup. When I go to the parts store and they ask the make, I say "Cummins" Dodge sheetmetal wrapped around a good engine.

 

[y-knot]

Well not to spoil the reputation 4wd's have, but I have had no"0" problems with my 1997 3500 and it's front end suspension. Come to think of it, if it weren't for the transmission I would not have had any service problems. Just lucky I suppose??

All trucks of all makes do have their fair share of problems, and no the grass isn't any greener over there.





I haven't had any dealer problems, what few times I do vist they have always been fair and competant.

 

[RonA]

My 92 has 155k on it and so far I have replaced the shocks and the front pads once. I have always had less problems with 4wd than 2wd. Different setup than 2nd gens though.



Ron

 

[NIsaacs]

I wouldn't blame Dodge so much as I would be leary of most tire/front end shops. Do you do your own work? When I purchased my first set of tires on my 91 D250 at about 80,000 miles, the tire shop advertised a free alignment with a four tire purchase. When they put it on the alignment rack, they told me it needed all the ball joints replaced. I said thanks but no thanks. It now has 294,000 miles on the same ball joints, in fact the front end is all original.



My 01 4x4 has 93,000 miles, all original.





"NICK"

 

[2broke2smoke]

130k, 35's and back country roads since 86k



replaced the track bar with a third gen



stock otherwise

 

[DBazley]

I agree our Rams have their problem areas. 2 WD, inherently, has much less to go wrong with the front end.



If you can live without it, I'd say bail on the 4 WD, get a 2 WD - simple is good.



Incompetent service shops (which can be dealers or some 'chain' shops, but rarely 'single owner - local' shops as they live or die on their reputation) or dishonest ones can take you for a ride.



I once worked at Mitsubishi Dealer Service dept, and they were honest, but only moderately competent. Depending on the mechanic your car was given to, you got a good, so-so or bad repair.



Gambling, anyone ?



So, by doing much of our own work, listenening to each others worthwhile advice, buying quality parts or upgraded parts, it seesm like our trucks challenges can not only be addressed, but overcome.



For example, I hope the Lukes link rebuilt track bar stays tight - it's super strong and should.



I think the Darins Steering Stabilizer bracket is extremely necessary for extra support on the steering box - perhaps my box will go many more miles. Now the front end is rock solid.



The steering fix deal we've been working on now has the 'tactile' steering wheel feel & road response just perfect. All my ball joints & tie rod ends are solid @ 155 k miles, rubber boots are shot, but all are tight.



But admittedly, if you just use stock parts, not upgrading them, get bad or dishonest advice at DC dealers or chain shops, this truck would seem like a money pit - as many sadly testify to.



I must say, if you don't like to touch your truck and have greasy hands, get a Toytota (Nissan Titans look sweet, too) - they're well designed and nearly never break !



But I don't mind as long as the repairs & upgrades are straighforward. My 4wd has all the 'normal' upgrades you all have helped me learn about, and now it's a great ride - better than ever, in fact.



Now, if I can just get the wife's Ram Van's issues licked, I can have grease free hands... ... . ha ha...



DBazley

 

[pwerwagn]

1998 with 170K miles. track bar is sorta loose, but still not to bad. original ball joints, track bar, wheel bearings, and been on aftermarket wheels and 305's for a good portion of the time. Also goes off road a lot.

I'm not complaining about mine at all!!! Heck, the only thing I've replaced are the tires, front brakes, clutch and a serpentine belt. pretty cheap transportation, IMO.

Im planning on doing a 3rd gen track bar kit when the time comes, and call it good.



BTW, as previously mentioned, the grass is not greener in the blue oval or bow tie camps. They all have their inherent problems.



--Jeff