Problems w/ 2500 4x4's

[bwright]

http://wheels.mainetoday.com/news/010703trucks_m.shtml

Anyone here had similar problems?

[AZFord4x4]

yup, mine drives like shit... wanders really badly...
All the dealership says is it's really sensitive to road crown, blah blah blah...
track bar wore out @ just under 20k miles too

[440-fide Ramcharger]

My brother and a buddy of mine have the same problem. No real answers yet, but there is a track bar upgrade, and they are going to try new arms from Rancho to try to fix the problem. Both trucks are pretty much off the road until fixed. I will e-mail this page to them, maybe they will respond.

[Chazzworth]

My wifes 99 Ext cab 4wd has 40k on it and the track bar is clanking and making noise. It is also on its 3rd tranny. It is only the 1500 also. I hate it I think it is a p.o.s.

[ 09-27-2001: Message edited by: Chazzworth ]

[Patman]

Mine Wanders a little (3500 but it's all the same) The best fix I've see so far is very simple. We took my buddy's truck (99 2500 Skyjacker 4.5") Replaced the trackbar with an aftermarket one, which uses a poly bushing on one end and a Hiem on the other end, it came with a very nice replacement bracket for the frame. We then took it and had it aligned to our own specs. (off of TDR) and now it drives great. No wandering, no pulling. The only problem has been the adjustment on the bar coming loose (we're fixing this permanently very soon)

I'll try to get the alignment specs and name of the company that makes the replacement trac bar, and post them here tonight.

But the alignment itself made a huge difference, the factory specs are way too vague and cause much of the problem.

[Hayraker]

I have that exact truck, 2001 2500 4x4, mine is a cummins though, I have about 16000 miles on it, a lot of that has been in the pasture and dirt roads and I have not had any handling problems........yet

that's kind of scary to read.

[440-fide Ramcharger]

Here is the link for the trackbar my friend used. It looks pretty nice. http://dodgeram.org/tech/mods/steering/trackbar/dt_install.html

[Patman]

Yeah, DT products is the company that makes the after market track bar. And the alignment settings (that came from a Gold Cert Chry. Alignment Tech) are.

Left Right

Caster 3.2 3.5
Cross Caster -.3

Camber -.10 -.10
Cross Camber 0.0

Toe - Standard specs, (maybe a little out if you tow alot, they will pull in as the front end lifts up).

The Eccentrics on the lower control arms ARE NOT for individual wheel caster adjustments (even though some alignment machines will tell you they are). The eccentric sleeves in the upper ball joints are for adjusting individual and total cross caster (difference in caster between the two front wheels). This is why replacement eccentrics are positionable in eight different ways. Once the camber and cross caster are attained with the eccentrics, the lower control arm eccentrics are then used to swing the caster readings into specifications. The two eccentrics must be swung in the SAME direction in EQUAL amounts. If they are not, it will create a setback condtion (one front wheel further forward than the other) Comparing the two front wheels, caster will cause a pull to the smaller value and camber will cause a pull to the larger value. A truck set up with caster pulling in one direction and camber pulling in the other direction, can lead to a wandering truck, even though it is "in specifications"
If the eccentrics on the lower arms are not pointing the same direction, the alignment was done incorrectly and the axle was "twisted" or "forced" into position to attain the acceptable values (they sometimes come this way from the factory).

[ 09-20-2001: Message edited by: Patman ]

[GRMhick]

I have noticed mine wandering alittle. when I took it into winston to get the tires alligned.. it just made it worse.. they did a crappy job, took it back, and now the problem was on the other side. They are telling me that a calliper is siezing up, but now 4,000 miles later, the pads are not worn, so I dunno. Also, I think I am lucky, my truck is only on it's second tranny (60k) and as far as I know, the track bar is orignal.. though now i have a rancho lift... geeze, one more thing to do when I get it back from the tranny shop (chrysler delers suck ass.. anyone know of a good chrysler repair shop in the santa clara or south (can go farther if needed). Geeze, but i know the POS feeling... but oh well... I got what I wanted, so I guess I am happy..

[neverenuf]

2002 trucks are ifs now. So what do ya think factory could'nt fix problem so they just made new design?
Should of bought GM <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">