Sapper

Please be patient with me, I checked some of the threads and couldn't find an answer to my question. My question - Has there been any issues with the front u-joints on the Ram CTD 4x4's?

I took my 2008 Ram 4x4 CTD in to get the oil changed. After conducting their multi-point inspection they later advised me both front u-joints are bad, one worse than the other. I understand vehicles wear and things like this happen, however, I only have 38,900 miles on my truck and I baby the crap out of it. It doesn't seem like something that should be going bad this soon.

I don't 4x off road or abuse the truck, I stay up on routine maintenance, and there has been no unusual noises, shimmies or other signs of things going wrong in the front, so, did Dodge get bad batch of u-joints or something. I guess I should have had them show me how they determined this but the truck was already off the lift and frankly I was still in the *** mindset.

I appreciate any info from you guys. Also, are the front u-joints difficult to change at home?

torquefan

Yes, they've been a big problem ever since Dodge switched from Spicer to AAM joints in 2003. The axle joints and driveshaft joints have had a much higher failure rate ever since. I have replaced lots of AAM joints on 3rd gen trucks and upgraded them to Spicers, it saves doing the same repair over and over.

marathon

What he said.^^

I don't have the tools/mechanical ability to change them over and am working on my fourth driver's side u-joint in 10yrs/200k mi. All at the dealer.