i just bought a 2001 dodge 1/2 ton 4x4 with 5.2 and auto tranny and it sucks. wa can i do to make it go??? within warranty specs. and how good will it get? also another problem? i have got two times now that i call a death wobble on washboard roads at about 70 mph. front end starts bouncin violently enough to cause loss of control. seems like the front end is jst bouncing higher and higher. the only cure is to keep it on the road and slow to 30 mph and it quits. it's only happened twice but damn it's scary. any suggestions??????

Return it and get a chevy. My wifes 99 1500 is a very slow p.o.s. also. I feel your pain.
I did however purchase some axles with 4:10 instead of the 3:55 that are under it.They should help some.

Had the same problem with my 96 Dodge Ram until I replaced the stock shocks which greatly improved the handling and really helped eliminate most of the bouncing. Hopefully your problem will be as simple as mine.

Umm, try some lower gears, new exhaust and a super charger. that may help. But honestly, the 318 seems alittle small for the ram, I know mine bogs down, but the more I work on my ram, the more i love it.

you should have bought the diesel!!

Originally posted by Chazzworth:
<STRONG>Return it and get a chevy. My wifes 99 1500 is a very slow p.o.s. also. I feel your pain.
I did however purchase some axles with 4:10 instead of the 3:55 that are under it.They should help some.</STRONG>

You still havent put those in???

Originally posted by samazuki:
<STRONG>i just bought a 2001 dodge 1/2 ton 4x4 with 5.2 and auto tranny and it sucks. wa can i do to make it go??? within warranty specs. and how good will it get? also another problem? i have got two times now that i call a death wobble on washboard roads at about 70 mph. front end starts bouncin violently enough to cause loss of control. seems like the front end is jst bouncing higher and higher. the only cure is to keep it on the road and slow to 30 mph and it quits. it's only happened twice but damn it's scary. any suggestions??????</STRONG>

i think i have solved the problem. i'm supposed to trade it this weekend for a 2002 v-10 1 ton single wheel. it might not be perfect but it's dam sure got to be better. 310 hp and 450 lbs of torque and independent front, so no death wobble. thanks guys

Originally posted by RudeZuk:
<STRONG>You still havent put those in???</STRONG>
Ha No I say I will about every weekend but I never get around to it. The wife does not care and I do not drive the truck enough. Someday maybe before next year. Did you put your shift kit in? Just wondering how much it helped.

the v-10 is a dog, your gas milage will suck, and you won't get as much power as your thinkin, if u get a mopar, skip the weak a$$ auto and go for the manual tranny, they seem to work much better

Originally posted by Chazzworth:
<STRONG>Originally posted by RudeZuk:
You still havent put those in???</STRONG>
Ha No I say I will about every weekend but I never get around to it. The wife does not care and I do not drive the truck enough. Someday maybe before next year. Did you put your shift kit in? Just wondering how much it helped.

Havent put the shift kit in...Just finished up on the zuk....Full width D44's with 37's!!! Pretty crazy now...

Originally posted by samazuki:
<STRONG>i just bought a 2001 dodge 1/2 ton 4x4 with 5.2 and auto tranny and it sucks. wa can i do to make it go??? within warranty specs. and how good will it get? also another problem? i have got two times now that i call a death wobble on washboard roads at about 70 mph. front end starts bouncin violently enough to cause loss of control. seems like the front end is jst bouncing higher and higher. the only cure is to keep it on the road and slow to 30 mph and it quits. it's only happened twice but damn it's scary. any suggestions??????</STRONG>

CHeck your gearing you probably have 3.55 or 3.73..Change to 4.56!! (i have 5.13's)...stering sucks on the half ton...i did JBA headers, 52MM Throttlebody, Took out 1 cat, Magnaflow muffler, K&N FIPK, MSD, but i have the 5.9......but i can roast the 40's!

Originally posted by samazuki:
<STRONG>i think i have solved the problem. i'm supposed to trade it this weekend for a 2002 v-10 1 ton single wheel. it might not be perfect but it's dam sure got to be better. 310 hp and 450 lbs of torque and independent front, so no death wobble. thanks guys</STRONG>

No 1 ton single wheel Dodges.

2002 2500 and 3500s are the old body style, straight axle, with death wobble at no extra charge.

Pete

I had a 89 with the 318. Same problem. No Power. I put a flowmaster. Helped some A K&N air filter. The whole unit that fits on the fuel injection like an air cleaner. Helped alot. And a Jacobs ignition and computer chip. After all that the truck ran with my buddys stock 360 and I improved the Gas Mileage by almost 4 miles to the gallon.

Originally posted by samazuki:
<STRONG>i think i have solved the problem. i'm supposed to trade it this weekend for a 2002 v-10 1 ton single wheel. it might not be perfect but it's dam sure got to be better. 310 hp and 450 lbs of torque and independent front, so no death wobble. thanks guys</STRONG>
I TEST DROVE THE V-10 AND WAS NOT IMPRESSED , HOWEVER I ALSO TEST DROVE A 2002 WITH THE 4.7 AUTO. IF YOU DON'T MIND THE INDEPENDENT FRONT( NO DEATH WOBBLE) THEN THIS IS THE TRUCK TO HAVE. I BROUGHT IT TO THE HOUSE AND HOOKED UP THE TRAILER WITH A JEEP ON IT AND IT STILL OUTRAN MY 2001 THAT WAS EMPTY. TOWS LIKE A DREAM. IT'S A RACE CAR WITH A BED + IT'S GOT FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKES(HUGE). i love it. i'm going to get it today and problem solved. man the dodge guys have come a long ways in 1 year. if you are going to get a new dodge, check this one out. it'll roast the tires no problem. and at 120 mph it rides sweeeeet. can't say enough about it. hopefully it stays together.

i got to test drive some of them. the handling and braking power is far ahead of the others. After the dealer training they give they open it up to invited persons and guests. It was quite the experience. I hope the 3/4 and 1 tons are just as nice. It might be hard though because they will still have the straight front axle (good thing btw).

IFS is gay. Dodge sucks for abandoning the solid axel.

BOOOO Dodge

The 4.7 is a pretty great engine, i've got it in my Dak.
Up to about 3000rpm, it seems a little mundane, but jump on that pedal and the engine just loves to rev, and she sounds great doin it!!!
There will be a high-output version of the engine soon as well, if they don't have it already. Maybe they do for the Rams, but not the Daks yet...

And Dodge has not "abandoned" the front axle, they are marketing to people that don't really need all the HD parts these days.
Do i agree? No.
Am i happy? No.
Would i like a solid axle in my Dak? DEFINITELY!!!

But the vast majority of new truck buyers (1/2 ton) these days just want a nice smooth on-road ride. So it's just money, like everything else....
What do you think about the Liberty and it's IFS? Think Jeep stayed true to it's origins????