Are the tie rods not coverd under warranty? 2006megacab, I see in your sig that you had two trucks lemmon lawed in the same year? Are you really hard on your trucks, rilly bad luck, or really picky . Just courious, no offence ment.

 

I really dont think Im hard on them I think I just have bad luck I never take my trucks off road ever just use them to pull the boat around. Normallly it would be covered under warranty but I just put a lift on 4k miles ago so Im screwed there...

 

Which lift kit do you have?

 

6 inch superlift

 

I traded my Tacoma for my diesel. I love the diesel, size, look, sound, etc. But coming from the toyota world, all this lame little warranty crap SUCKS. It's gotten to the point that whenever I need my truck washed, I just take it in to have warranty work done cuz they wash it every time it's in there. That's what it's come to. I'm currently dealing with some sort of slipping in the drive train somewhere. I thought it was the clutch, but I've ruled that out being that the sound is coming from the rear of the truck. I'm guessing either driveline u-joints or something in the rear diff (maybe carrier bearing [my pinion seal leaks something fierce so maybe it's affected the bearing?]). The driveline doesn't vibrate like in my old 4Runner when its u-joints would go though. As far as your issues go, I don't know what to say. I'm basically just feeling your pain. Many a night goes by that I wish I'd have just kept my Tacoma.

 

does megacab tie rod ends come with grease zerts?

once upon a time when all tie rod ends, ball joints and ujoints came with zerts. it was a normal thing to shot em full of grease every 15k miles or so.

usually tie rod ends when kept full of grease will go darn near forever.
you can use a needle grease gun attachment to shoot grease into tie rod end boots. if there's no zerts.

 

You mean z-e-r-k-s...

 

Not to hijack this but if Toyota comes with a good diesel in 2008 EVERY other truck maker should be scared! (and they probably are) The build on mine was dare I say almost perfect??? Again this is a great truck but to have driveline issues on a truck with less than 100k miles... c'mon. Toyota would have recalled the trucks with problems like that...

 

If they came out with a diesel in 08, my ears would definitely perk up for sure.

 

I know I am going to get flamed for this, but, oversize rims and tires along with lift's and leveling kits don't exactly help factory steering parts and suspension parts live extra long lives. Seem's here at our dealership at least, that the guys who have the most problems are the one's who start changing everything from factory specs. Two different brand of trucks lemon lawed and now your not happy with Dodge? Sounds strange to me?

 

Adam Sandler. I agree the truck is lifted but oversize rims I doubt it 20x9's arent exactly oversized now if they were 20x12 yea I would agree. Where the tie rod is its all factory there. I never said I wasnt happy I was upset the tie rod was out already. Two different brand of trucks lemon lawed yes whats left DODGE so like they say either DODGE IT or RAM IT. But in no way did I say I wasnt happy.....

 

I figured the other two trucks were lemon lawed for being a F**d and a Chevy...

Lots of trucks have steering/suspension issues with aftermarket wheels and tires, so you'd think there'd be a connection - but I've run 305-315 x 75 BFG and aluminum alloys on both my Rams w/o any of these issues. I have to say the '98 with 225K miles has been heavily abused and still sports original balljoints and shocks. One of the rear sway bar end-links wore out, so instead of spending almost $100 at the dealer for a new joint, I welded a heim joint to the factory end for free!

 

It could be that these joints ARE a little undersized for the trucks. It used to be that trucks were built like tanks and rode like them. Wanting to target others to the trucks brought about the 'soft ride' suspensions. In the beginning they were still built somewhat 'tank' like, but over the last 10 years they HAVE beocme more 'car' like in their size of joints. Another factor has to do with technology - now a computer can be used to downsize a part and still have it perform within a given range of performance. Ultimately this decrease in mass also decreases cost. The real question becomes 'when does acceptable efficiency and performance decrease lifespan to a point of customer dis-satisfaction, and what does the consumer consider an acceptable lifespan?' It very well may be that the line is now crossed into that unacceptable territory.

The tire argument also has some validity when you compare a BFG AT KO 315-70-17 with 10" of tread width on the ground vrs the BFG AT KO 35-12.5-17's with 12.5" of tread on the ground. The 315's are 1" more tread on the ground over stock and really should not cause that much stress to the joints. The 35's increase it to 3.5"s more tread on the ground which does increase the stress to the joints. This actually becomes the real argument regarding warranty and tire issues. If you were upgrading to the 315-70's the dealership argument is all but moot. Since the 315-70's are found to be the stock tire on a Hummer, and the suspension is very similar in construction, joints and all, what's good for GM should be good for Dodge.

CD

 

Luke S makes a valid point and one that should not be pooh-poohed. With my 325's I can feel every aspect of the steering working harder. My tires are 13.5" wide and weigh about 80-lbs each. That's quite a bit different than the stock 265's.

 

I really can't tell exactly from this picture..........

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...0&ppuser=39899

but I'm pretty sure that front suspension is not stock? Looks like some different suspension links in there, shocks, and maybe springs? I am not saying that completely stock trucks don't have issue's, but I know, at least at our dealership, that trucks that have differnet wheels and tires and suspension have more problems with steering and supension components failing than one's where the owners don't change everything. These components were designed to provide service in the stock dimensions and specifications. If you start changing stuff, all bets are off. I guess I am different than most of the crowd today, but I for one would not change my tires, rims, and suspension components, and then get upset if a steering part failed. If it was all stock, I'd say "hey Dodge, fix it", and they would.