So my new to me 2005 QC 4x4 Cummins ram with 30K one owner babied miles has a wandering front end? I have driven the truck about 2K in the last month and had it aligned due to the steering wheel being off center.

The truck has an odd squeek when it hits washbord dirt or uneven sharpedged pavement and or potholes. It also seems to want to wander and the steering input taking a right turn is different from going left? The steering input seems "Vague" from 12:00 to 1:100 or 12:00 to 11:00 and it does have a bad case of "Wanderlust".

Whilst my last vehicle was a 2007 Ram 1/2 ton with IFS I didnt expect this truck to handle as well but its getting irratitating constantly trying to keep this truck between the lines and its almost spooky at hwy speeds if I hit a pothole and the slightest breeze makes this truck want to get in a ditch and hide?

The truck is still on it factory 3/36 and I dropped it off at the dealer to check the tie-rods, Balljoints and track bars? I also have a sneeky suspision that this could be a worn out hub?

Any thoughts on what causes the wandering in a 2005 4x4 thats been babied and hasnt ever pulled a load?

 

Is my 2005 the only one that wanders?

Luckeee......

 

i havent had any problems with wandering i have 49000 on it and pull alot. also use truck for quite a bit of offroad use. i think you're looking in the right places with checking the tie rods and other front end parts...i'd imagine if the tack bar bushings were going south, that would give wishy washy steering...

 

Mine doesn't wander either. At least for a solid axle vehicle. Compared to IFS, the solid does bumpsteer a bit. How wide are your tires?

 

I have no problems with wandering either.

 

Stock BFG Ragged Terrain tires. 32K miles. Truck is in "Pristine" condition. Never been abused or extensively offroaded.

I read a TSB on the 05' power wagons wandering due to the tires. Dodge actually ponied up the cash to replace em'. I have the build sheet on my truck and it states that it was originally ordered with these tires :TT5 LT265/70R17E OWL On/Off Rd Tires

I bought the truck with 30K on the odometer and it is still on its original tires. I wonder if the BFG Rugged Terrains suck?

Its at the dealer now as they are keeping it overnight due to my request that they keep it until they can fix it.....I have an Edge system to install and want any little stuff addressed prior to going over the 36K or putting in the Edge.

 

It's been my experience that dealers have a huge gap in front end tolerances. If it's under warranty, it's ok....as soon as it is out of warranty it's WAY out of spec. Must just be a coincidence tho.

I say that to say this, if you really want to know what your front end is doing, i'd take it to a reputable shop and have them jack it up (of course only if your dealer says everything is ok.) I doubt it's the tires, but it is possible I suppose. Most likely it's worn tie rods ends or trac bar bushings. Some of these trucks eat through them pretty quickly with little to no abuse (cheap OE parts). Ball joints are also a possibility. But the (under warranty) dealer spec on those is just plain silly. They will still call completely trashed joints within spec.

 

my truck kinda wanders, has almost 70k on it. bought an adj. trackbar and needs its tires rotated. have you had your balljoints looked at ? trackbar loose? tires rotated and balanced properly? alignment?

 

Its been at the dealer overnight now. I paid to have it aligned myself at an alignment shop who made no comment on any worn parts although after the alignment the wheel was off center. I brought it back to the shop and told them I needed the steering wheel centered which they did via and adjustment bolt on the steering box? I hadnt really noticed the wandering prior to the alignment as the wheel was so far off center that it masked the fact!

When it goes over bumps of any significance it sounds like a small sack of trash is tied to the front axle. Big squeek and a few clunks. My 07' Ram IFS 1/2 ton was silent and solid sounding in comparision. Crosswinds on the highway are hellish as well........Getting passed or passing say a Semi is akin to an out of body experience as I hold on tight and wonder which way I'm gonna get pitched.

 

The noise coming from your 2005 front end, when going over a bump, possibly could be from dry front wheel bearings. I had a new 1976 2WD Ford 250 that developed noise coming sometimes from the driver's side front wheel before there was 11k miles on the odometer. Under warranty both the front wheel bearings were replaced. The dealer said the factory did not put enough grease into the wheel bearings. The bearings turned blue from heat, but the bearing races were fine. Within two days after the first noise was heard I took the truck to the dealer.

The 2005 owner's manual indicates the following:

Front Wheel Bearings
Front wheel bearings for all Dodge Ram Trucks are sealed-for-life. They do not require greasing or seal replacement. In some instances, these bearings will "purge" excess grease and the bearing housing will look slightly wet. This is normal.

*Periodic inspection for excess play is recommended.

*If a bearing assembly is accidentally separated when servicing the brake rotors, it should be replaced.


Your wheel bearing may be worn and have excess play. This will cause erratic handling.

 

The exact same thing is happening to my truck. The alignment shop says it is my upper and lower ball joint. And i just had my upper ball joints changed 50,000km ago. Ball joint on these trucks do not seem to last long. When i get them changed this time in the spring it will be the 3rd set that this truck has gone through and the truck only has 191,000km.

 

They figured mine out today. Loose track bar bolts and too much psi in front tires. Lowered PSI to 50 and tightend track bar bolts. Drives perfectly now.....I do wish I could have gotten a new set of ball joints before my warranty is up though!!!

I still have a slight clunk when the wheels are turned all the way to the right and I idle into my driveway though.....Stabilizer bushings? U-Joints? They said all the componets in front end checked out to "Acceptable" in the Dodge Warranty Bible. Something tells me it wont check out so good when its my dime on the line! Til then I'm gonna pester them at every possible oppourtunity

 

I run my stock front tires at the tire recommended psi and have no problems. I am sure it is close to 70. I don't have any wandering or a hard time staying on the road. Just FYI.

 

i would try my hardest to get those ball joints changed under warrenty. They are not cheep.

 

Yup...I'm very suspisious about loose track bar bolts as well. The truck does in fact drive perfectly now but *** tightened the track bar bolts? Arent there bushings in those things that should have been replaced instead of retorqued?


I want some ball Joints and a track bar bushings! I'm gonna beeryatch and complain til I get em'.

3K more miles and the party is over....Then it converts over to my dime! Ouch.