I am about to put on order a 2500 4x4 with the Cummins 600. Many people have told me not to buy the Dodge because they have steering problems. They tell me that the ***** joints need to be replaced within a year.
As I search this site I can see this was an issue with older trucks.
Is this still a problem with the '03 & '04's??

Thanks,

David

 

picked up my '03 SO Quad in Feb- 10500 miles on it now- no problems with the steering so far- the steering is precisely why I bought the Dodge- you can feel the road and it acts more like a rack & pinion sports steering- go drive a Ford or Chevy- Ford likes to wander on its own course and the Chev- well, you can't even feel the steering- they do make a nice cushy riding car,uh truck though- even heard of a couple of guys around here draining some of the PS fluid in their Duramax to get a better feel- not sure if this is smart or not- break your decision down to the Ram & Ford (at least your staying with a real truck either way)- the 250 is impressive but the Ram has a crisp feel- if I have to replace a ball-joint a little sooner then so be it-

 

My truck tracks like its on rails, and has for the last 14 months I've had her. Much better than a truck this size has a right too. Nothing wrong with her ball joints either (@ 20K miles).

I've read stuff about a "death wobble" or something on the 2nd Gens, but not on the new ones.

Buy it.

 

Have read some stuff on ball joints (mebbe other site??) one or two people having problems some were lifted, I believe most had bigger tires on them. I don't believe it is a big concern. My '03 CTD is light years better than the last Ferd I had and so much better than the early '90's there is no comparison. FWIW.

 

Thanks for the quick response.

I am going to go ahead and put it on order.

 

[quote author=DavidNY03 link=board=20;threadid=23668;start=0#msg223167 date=1071360664]
Thanks for the quick response.

I am going to go ahead and put it on order.
[/quote]

You won't be sorry. It's coming up on one year since I got mine and I certainly have no regrets. One great truck. It still gives me a great big ;D every time I drive it.

 

Lemme see, 95 1500...no steering or ball joint problems. 99 2500, no problems. So far so good with the 03 3500 with 2300 miles.

 

No problems on 98 at 80,000 miles. None on 2003 at 30,000 miles.

 

My '03 is far superior in the steering dept. Its much better than my old GMC 1/2 ton, and turns tighter, too. I don't forsee any problems-Steve

 

03 with 22K miles ;D
Only regret not waiting 3 weeks and getting the auto HO :'(
I guess I'll have to trade up when the 600 with 10K generator comes out ;D ;D ;D

 

Thanks for the feedback.

Glad I did not buy one off a lot. For the past few months you could only find SO's on dealer lots. Now I get to order a 600!

 

Just do it, this is what will happen ;D ;D

 

The biggest steering problems exiting in the 2nd gens were related to the fact that the front trac bar (a suspension part that locates the axle) was the same design in the 3500 4x4 diesels as in the 1500 gaser. reliable in the latter and a disaster in the former.

When I bought my 04 I noticed that this has been re-designed and that the new design looks an awful lot like the after market replacement trac bar that was so succesful for the 2nd gens.

 

Well, I and one of my friends have the 03, HO, quad 4x4s, 11500mi. We both have issues with steering pumps acting up.

At a stop or just starting off turning, they ocassionally stick. What I mean by sticking is this, you try to turn the wheel and they act like the pump isn't putting any pressure out. It's like arm strong steering. It will happen when the system is warm. I have also noticed there is pressure on the cap to the steering pump. When I check the fluid level both cold and hot, it will often puff air out. I'm not too worried at this point, that's what a warranty is for. I still love my truck!!!!!!!!!!! Won't ever go back to a Powerchoke.
Greg