dodgeguy71

Alright, have an 02' POS...I mean Dodge 2500, 4x4, etc. Two weeks ago, front pads and rotors. Three days ago, right front wheel bearing and then notice that the left front axle seal is leaking. Alright, well the wheel bearing on that side is hosed as well so can get it all at once. Two days later I order all parts and figure a few hours Saturday and I'll have it licked. Had this side apart before so the wheel bearing should be a breeze to come out.

As suspected wheel bearing came right out, had this knocked down in about 30 minutes. Low and behold seal will not come out. Check in the book and book simply states, "use a long punch to push out seal". Long punch? Am I pushing the seal in? Then you look at the front diff cover and think really? Remove cover, then drop chunk on the ground and look, there is the seal. Ok, now we'll get this whipped. Remove seal, open box with new seal and think, ***??? Your joking right? So back to the parts house. Well, we can't even get it, no picture to ensure that it is in fact the correct seal. So, we call the dealer, we have to order it, O'Reilly's, they have one in Nashville. So they have it brought in that evening, looks like the seal for the passenger side and not the driver side. Stop by Autozone, helpful young kid with eagle eyes spotted the part number CR 49489, although it did not help, he had no picture and could not get it either.

Get home, call the client I was supposed to go out and weld on his truck Sunday, bump him to later in the week, cancel Mondays job, tuesdays job because apparently I am the only one in the southern states that has ever ordered this particular seal for this truck.

Sorry, had to vent someplace. 181,000 miles on this truck and as I heard years ago when I first bought this truck, "it will fall apart around the engine". You know what, it sure as heck is!!

maxwellp

You did not say NAPA but thats what I use here.
Left inner NOS 14694 Right inner NOS 19208

I had both leaking on mine after new ujoints and brakes. I got the seals, now this was winter and I was plowing snow with it. So I kept it full and left the seals on the shelf. After about a month it stop leaking, still does not leak. I just leave the seals on the shelf to keep it from leaking.
I have seen many others say the same thing, some will stop some will not.
Check those NAPA numbers but that is what I come up with.

Russ Roth

Seems a bit harsh when you have a 181,000 on it. You don't think you ever need to repair, replace or wear out anything on it in that many miles??? I have about 10,000 less on mine and my only trouble has been the track bar and a lift pump.

dodgeguy71

No, it's not the fact that I don't think I have to replace anything with that amount of miles. It's the fact that I have a 95 explorer with 235k on it, a 94 saturn with over 325k on it and between the two of them have spent less than $1500 on maintenance. Sure, tires, plugs, wires etc not included. I'm talking off the wall stuff, wheel bearings, driveline seals, pinion seals, clutches, fuel pumps, water pumps. I have done several alternators on the saturn, first one I bought the following three advance auto has given me for free because of the lifetime warranty. Spent $400 on the explorer doing a water pump, radiator then oil change, tranny oil(all Amsoil).

On the truck, $800 clutch last year, 130k(saturn has original clutch), $600 last year on 2nd fuel pump for truck. This last two weeks with the truck $1000, wheel bearings, seals, practical front end rebuild, brake caliper. Not to mention the Vp44 replacement awhile back, the side engine fuel pump replacement with the intank turd awhile ago, rear wheel bearings at 110k, rear pinion seal, the exploding dash syndrome and that's just in the last year. Starting around 150k until now. Oh, and all I've ever done as far as tuners, a power puck, 50hp, wow.....

Like I said, I can understand having to replace parts with 180k but when you compare to previously owned and currently owned vehicles the old goat seems to be dipping into the wallet a bit more than the others.

Got her all back together now and running good once again. I've deposited two checks for jobs in the last week, two checks have disappeared into the truck maintenance in that same amount of time! Kinda defeats the purpose of going out and making money! LOL!! Next truck something bigger, F350, 3500 size trucks not worth spending the money on. I can get a International 4400 for less than I can get the same year model 1 ton Dodge, Ford Chevy. Smart choice next time is something along that line. Still enjoy the Cummins, the rest of the truck is questionable though!

Russ Roth

I'm sorry to hear all the troubles you have had. I have not seen that with any of the rigs around here that I know about.

My fishing pard has a '99 with more miles than mine and did do a tranny on it but I am fairly sure from his description he probably did not need a tranny rebuild. I had told him to call me before he does anything since we have the forums to get some answers from if I can't help. He didn't do it. Other than that he has done a lift pump.

There are a couple other friends with 24 valves with no issues and some others in the family along with one 1st Gen. Several of the family members are Ford guys and say these rigs are the best pickups they have ever had and that's a bunch of Fords over the years. One did a IP right after he bought it used and other than that no issues they have mentioned. No cracked dashes on any of them so far.

Mentioning upgrading to a larger rig makes me wonder if you are using it in a way it was never designed for? Only you can answer that question but using something beyond design limits usually guarantees trouble. Not saying you are, just sort of asking since I have noticed your complaints for some time now.

dodgeguy71

It's not any worse off than anything else that people use them for. I figured a heavier truck would put what I do at the bottom end of it's scale instead of on the top end of a 1 ton truck scale. So far I've had every issue mentioned just about, minus the ball joints which amazingly I still have 3 originals! Should have changed them when I had the front end destroyed last week but kinda got tired of dumping money($1000) and figured they'll just have to start wobbling or show signs of wear before I go and replace them.

I've had pretty good luck with my other vehicles so maybe it was just my time to get a money pit! Gonna go ahead and do rear wheel bearings and seals, probably u joints, rear brakes, parking brake in the next few weeks just to be ahead of the game. Don't like it when this thing lays down on me and costs me income. Somebody mentioned maintenance, this is my typical maintenance, replacing things just because it does have a bunch of miles, not waiting til it falls apart which is why it will probably get ball joints before to long as well. Good or bad they'll get replaced.

Russ Roth

I have been pretty fortunate with most all rigs I have owned. I did have a crank go bad in a 409 Chev and dropped a valve in a 283 once. That was many years ago and probably what I get for going to the dark side. I've only owned 3 rigs (chevs) that were not Mopars.

I don't recall all the issues you have had but this post almost sounds like you are replacing stuff preemptively. Sometime there are reasons for that but if it isn't broke or worn out it is a bit hard to blame the rig. I know others have had some of the same complaints you have but I have not and neither has anyone I personally know with a 2nd gen 24 valve. Lift pumps are about the only thing and those have been very few. And that's Cummins not Dodge. I can also tell you I tried using that same Carter pump in the late 60's/early 70's on a couple gassers and they were JUNK then and nothing has changed. I thought they would last better with diesel since it is supposed to be more of a lubricant than gas but that has obviously not been the case.

I've got my fingers crossed that mine keeps going without trouble since I get enough grief from my wife about that stinky old noisy piece of junk. There are a couple things I would like to be better but overall mine has been great plus tows way nicer than my BB 450 CID Power Wagon with better fuel mileage. Hope yours becomes reliable enough that you are happy with it.

rebal

I work on all 3 and all of them have strong points and week point .had a Dmax 4x4 in with 105k both front bearings shot and drivers side window stuck halfway down ,had a 97 dodge 2500 4x4 with 267k on orig. front bearings still OK but had a bad track bar and steering gear and fords have just as many issues. its sems some people have great luck with the trucks they chose and some get Friday or Monday rigs.when I bought my 90 Cummins everyone said the truck will fall off the engine.but at over 700,000 miles its still in great shape , I have put a lot of parts on it but it still has been the best truck I have ever owned hands down,and my 01 with 150k has only had the ball joints done to it the rest of the $ has been mods or repair from mods(head gasket).you will not escape repairs on the other side they will just be in different places,
MY.02