Better Roads Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/86539
something and observers may fail to take into account engine move- ment when examining them. Contaminants get in where rubber meets metal hose and etch a fi ne hole, misting the undercarriage with no obvious leak point. Dodge reminds owners that ATF+4 color and odor are not indications of fl uid condition and should be changed on mileage/ use. By this point the NV4500HD fi ve-speed manual was solid, although many hi-milers fi nd the called-for GL4 is better for them than supposedly backward-com- patible GL5. Although interior noise, vibra- tion and harmonics increase, Redmond prefers a single-mass fl ywheel be used to cure any clutch-slip issues instead of using the dual-mass model used on G56R trucks. However, before you go fl y- wheel hunting, our techs say most Ram clutch-slipping complaints are usually traced back to faulty master or slave cylinder leaks. CHASSIS By 2002 the brakes were all-disc and the central-axle disconnect was dropped so the front drive- shaft is always turning. So always check the front diff fl uid level even if you never engage 4WD on '02-newer 4WD Rams. 4WD front hubs are not easily SOURCES One big nuisance item in the steering system is the weak track bar. BD Diesel and others have heavy-duty replacements to cure those ills. serviced and Redmond fi nds the '03-'09 bearings and ball-joints inferior to those used in earlier models. But he does consider the "H46" recall adequate. If you will be using 4WD a lot, our experts recommend upgrad- ing to Dynatrac's manual-locking hub conversions that include easily serviced bearings for '94-09 trucks ('10+ in testing). Dynatrac (rebuildable) and Carli also carry ball-joint upgrades. include those from Rock Solid for Gen 2 trucks, Borgeson shafts and boxes, steering box stabiliz- ers from BD and others, and a Saginaw 1400 series-box up- grade from Performance Steering Components. Maintenance tips: keep at least 0.5-degree U-joint angles to keep them lubed; fi ll the 2004 axle ¾-inch below fi ll hole to keep it from foaming; jacking up one side at a time ensures the wheel bearings get lubed and level is set properly. (On trucks built after 2004 there should be a stamped fi ll line about ¾-inch below the fi ll hole.) Older, high-mileage 4x4 Rams benefi t greatly from upgrading to Dynatrac's manual-locking hub conversions that include easily serviced bearings for '94-09 trucks. Track bars are the biggest nuisance to Ram owners, up to the 2010 model year. The '00-'02 bar wears quickly because of the weak ball stud end. There are many fi xes including Ball-joint upgrades, like these from ProSteer, are highly recommended when the OE parts bite the dust. THE EXPERTS Any owner or tender of a Dodge Ram should know about and how to use Chrysler's service website, techauthority.com, and the enthusiast websites and publications TurboDies- elRegister.com, allpar.com, dodgeforum.com, dodgeram.com, and the Association of Diesel Specialists. Be familiar with Cummins and Bosch shops often less expensive than dealer fi xes, and know the CPL (control parts list) number(s) for your Cummins. 60 PROPICKUP October 2012 Luke's Link, DT, BD, Moog DS1413. But Redmond prefers the Solid Steel Industries relocation bracket with the '03-'08 factory or Solid Steel's own adjustable track bar. Tie-rod ends on '08-newer models were an issue, and Dodge issued a TSB with instructions for indexing the ball stud. Our sources suggested this was more a metallurgy issue than indexing. So check them out if this is the truck you are thinking of buying. Other steering upgrades BODYWORK AND ELECTRICS The TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) in '03-09 trucks has more issues than other com- ponents, often traced to trailer lights and insuffi cient fusing; after cycling like a circuit-breaker a few times the TIPM becomes an expensive paperweight. A separately wired fuse/relay circuit for trailer running lights removes that load. Top-line audio and navigation systems are usually fi xed with software via fl ash or DVD, but the aftermarket or your smartphone are often more cost-eff ective. If your Ram's remote start cranks but doesn't start the truck (Redmond: "WCM wigged out") try pulling the IOD fuse for a couple of minutes to reset the system. Vent heater blend doors on early Gen 3 trucks were problematic with the metal rods holding the doors breaking off so the A/C and defrost wouldn't work right. Dodge thinks these parts are solid AirDog, purefl owairdog.com, 877-421-3187 BD, dieselperformance.com, 800-887-5030 Borgeson Steering, borgeson.com, 860-482-8283 DT Pro Fab, dtprofab.com, 928-776-4129 Dynatrac, dynatrac.com, 714-596-4461 FASS, fassride.com, 866-769-3747 Geno's Garage, genosgarage.com, 800-755-1715 Heater Treater, heatertreater.net Performance Steering Components, pscmotorsports.com, 812-270-0102 Redmond Enterprises & Engine, Plano, Texas, 972-880-9845 Rock Solid, Solid Steel Industrial Mfg., solidsteel.biz, 306-842-4346 rocksolidramtrucksteering.com, 936-250-1323 Turbo Diesel Register, tdr1.com, 770-886-8877 Vulcan, vulcanperformance.com, 800-991-7996 gold by their price. Fortunately, Heater Treater (heatertreater. net) has better replacement door kits at a good price with detailed instructions to fi x such A/C heat/ vent problems. Paint on Gen 2 and 3 is another big problem – especially red. It's the most costly of colors for repainting, too. Repainting with today's more UV-resistant paints is the only solution if you want to keep rust at bay. With all the fl oods and hurri- canes over the past 7 years, be dili- gent checking for water damage when inspecting a used pickup. Look for rust under the seats, up under the side corners of the dash, down in the cowl or on top of the frame – or anywhere trash and debris might have lodged and whomever cleaned it up missed. Heater vent "blend" doors are a very common failure item on Gen 3 Rams. A solid fi x is avail- able from Heater Treater.com, which for the repairs. provides the parts and detailed instructions