Diesel_Power_2

Hi Everyone,

I have owned the truck for about 9 months and have been trying to get the truck to handle correctly. 2 different alignments done recently with the later on seemingly better than the previous. The issue is when up around 70 MPH it seems to float kinda and more than usual correcting is needed when it hits an uneven road crown, it kinda sticks and then today when I was at that speed I corrected one way then the other and quickly it was left/right/left/right the DW as I have learned must be.

I have been told the front end is tight and have installed the stabilizer kit as well. If I cannot get this sorted I will have to sell it and let someone else with more experience/knowledge have a go at it. I really like to power of the cummins and wanted a rig for hauling a camper through the Rockies as needed for my work travels.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Hodge

My 2 cents? A truck with 300,000 miles is going to have worn out parts- start replacing the common parts that wear. Track bar, control arm bushings, steering stabilizer, check the steering box and brace it, ball joints, tie rod ends, wheel bearing units. If you really like the truck, keep it and go through the front end- that is probably cheaper than getting another truck.
And, be careful taking the word of alignment shops- many of them don't know/understand the alignment issues and needs for coil sprung Dodge trucks. There are plenty of posts on this topic- it is fixable.

Diesel_Power_2

Thanks Hodge,

I am interested in knowing if these trucks are able to move at high speed without any handling problems. I have had a provincial inspection to get it licensed and am pretty sure all is good in the front end. I will be returning to the alignment shop of last and ask them. They are Dodge Specialists apparently, call PDR here in Abbotsford.
Thanks for your 2 cents.

Homestead

These trucks can be set up for easy driving down the road.

I'm over 220,000 miles on mine and it has the factory original front end.....everything, wheel bearings, ball joints, tie rods, etc. The only thing that has been changed is the shocks and they blew out 50,000 miles ago and I put in a Daystar leveling puck.

The truck has been aligned once and the tires wear dead flat. For alignment specs, I, and others I know swear by these specs........

http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/00_steer_specs.html

Tell your alignment guy to not waver in any way off these specs and you will (should) be happy with the way your truck drives if everything is tight. The alignment guy I used didn't beleive the variance from factory specs would make a difference until he drove my truck afterwards, now these are the only specs he uses.

I have had zero problems with the front end, yes it is starting to wander a bit as things start to get some miles on them but it's more than tolerable. Never had a case of death wobble....yet

As for high speed travel, I can peg the speedo at will and have no issues with doing it. I highly don't recommend it and I don't do it just for the sake of being able to. Your driving a 4 ton brick and as we know, the brakes on these trucks suck.

As Hodge mentioned, parts are way cheaper then another truck. Even with another truck, are you possibly going to run into the same issue? Rebuild what you have and enjoy it.

Mine is getting ready for a major front end rebuild coming up shortly. Brakes, suspension, steering, bushings, control arms, etc, etc.

I would sooner drop $20,000 into this old pig and fix all the known quirks than drop $60,000 on a new one and have to start all over with all the EGR and DPF crap.

Jeff

joem

My new to me but well used and abused 95' has some seriouly worn parts. tie rods move up and down 1/2" and im able to move the drivers side tire left and right about a inch while the passanger tire doesnt move a bit. the truck handles quite well, just alot of slop in the wheel. Has anyone tried the lukes links replacement parts?