Another new problem for my 2002

My buddy noticed the other day that my truck was dog tracking really bad. We switched trucks, so I could see what he was talking about and sure enough my truck goes down the road like a dog. I talked to several alignment shops and they all say I need to take the truck to a body shop to have the rear axle re-align with the frame. How could this have happen? The truck has never been in an accident. I know this is not the forum to say this, but it might be time for a Chevy Duramax.

Here is the list of problems I have had in just the last six months and 5,000 miles with this truck.

2002 DRW 3500 130,000 miles 4x4 six speed

1. Inner tire rod end and alignment $300
2. Track Bar $150
3. Rear caliper $100
4. Lock nut came of number 5 cylinder rocker. $100
5. APS $600
6. Dog Track issue $?????
7. 2nd gear shutter $???

Here is a list of problems I have had with my 2004 which I bought new and had 40,000 miles.

2004 2500 4x4 six speed

Everything covered under warranty
1. Front wheel hub $400
2. U-joints $150
3. Injection Pump $1,500
4. Drive side mirror $400

I got rid of this truck for the 2002 because I thought I had a lemon, but now I am just realizing either I have bad luck or all Dodge trucks have a lot of issues. I have a friend with a 2002 that has 80,000 miles, and had to replace the injection pump even with a fuel pressure gauge that showed no fuel pressure issues at all.

Everyone says that the Duramax has bad injectors, but GM will cover any Duramax for up to 200,000 miles on injector issues. I wish Dodge would do that on the 2nd Gen injection pump. I guess I want to know what issues do the Chevy's have other than the injectors?

Thanks

 

I'd start be checking ALL of the suspension bushings. Check your rear spring mounts and the springs themself.

 

I would start out with checking everything that JPR Ram stated. My buds F-350 ford did this slightly. It also had a bad clunking noise in the rear end when he turned a corner. Ended up needing a new rear axle.

Dont feel too bad, There is a 2001 F-350 sittin in my driveway that I have put over 10k into just to keep running and driving in only 60,000 miles.... (She was built on a monday mornin, I think)

 

Likely the rear U-bolts are loose, or the alignment bolt is sheared off, crawl under your truck and have a look it should be quite noticable, if not use a tape measure, to compare sides, to help find out which side sheared off the alignment bolt(alignment bolt, is the bolt which holds the spring pack together, and the head of the bolt sits in a hole that is in the pad that is welded to the axel) the bolts breaking allowing the axel to shift is a common thing on all makes/brands

 

nickg beat me to it. What he said.

 

You are right, that is what happened. I will have to wait until tomorrow to see how much this is going to cost, but it should not be to bad.

Thanks again

 

What causes this to happen?

Dan

 

PLEASE, dont buy a CHEVY!! Dont get discouraged, Stuff on these trucks wear out and break. On EVERY make and model it can happen. Having a heavy motor up front like a diesel will take its toll on all kinds of steering and suspension parts. Keep us updated on what the problem is/was and how you fix it.

 

Well I had the axle looked at today, and they say it is bent 7". Is this even possible? I looked under it today, and I can't see that it is bent at all. The U-bolts that hold the leaf springs to the axle are bent forward on the passengers side. Couldn't they just replace the U-Bolts? If they did wouldn't that straighten the axle out. A new axle housing cost $2100 plus $1000 in labor!!!! I am going to take it to a different place tomorrow to get a second opinion.

Has anyone heard of a bent axle on a 1 ton Dodge DRW???

Thanks

 

7inchs, or 7degrees? I could see 7degrees but 7inchs seems a little excessive...

I would definitly take it to another shop, see what they say about the axle housing. Might just be a shop trying to take advantage of a situation, it does happen sadly . I have a few members of my family that were worked over by an overzealous shop that trumps up the list of things that 'need' to be fixed to make a few extra bucks.

P.S. I don't have any personal experience with 1ton dodges but it does seem rather odd you could bend an axle housing like that without seriously abusing the truck hauling huge loads... But anythings possible and i'm sure it can happen...

 

If the axle was so badly bent and you had this going on for a while your rear tires would be badly unevenly worn. I say, fix the obvious problem and drive it to see if there is a need to keep throwing money at it.
-P

 

I would think the springs would have been ripped outta the truck if it had fetched up hard enough to bent the rear axel!!!! I highly doubt the axel is bent (esp7inches), pull the U-bolts off(or just cut em off with a hand grinder and replace them with new) look to see if the "center bolt" is still there, align everything back up and install new U-bolts.