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TxGearhead's avatar
TxGearhead
Explorer II
Aug 26, 2021

Ram 3500 issue

2018 Ram 3500, Cummins, Aisin, 3.73.
I began noticing a few months ago that under very light braking...backing out of the garage and turning, I felt a jerking. I'm on the road and almost back home. It is very pronounced while pulling the 5th. Taking off from a stop and turning it acts like it's in 4 wheel drive. Sitting around the campground a couple weeks ago I mentioned it. One guy said his employer had a fleet of Rams that would do the same when in skid control and in 4x4. I turned skid control off and could tell no difference. Almost feels like a u-joint or posi trac differential clutches grabbing.
Anyone heard of this or experienced it? I'm due to visit my dealer when I get home and will get them to look.
Just rolled 50,000 miles.
  • What I'm thinking..front u joints. No noise at all. Does fine going straight or moderate speed curves.
  • Seems very early for a failure but likely front axle u joint. Once they get dry and start binding it’s like a mild case of trying to turn on dry pavement in 4wd. Steering wheel will seesaw back n forth a little.
    Once they wear enough they will get loose and not do that but will clunk. Sounds like early stage of a u joint going out
  • What I'm thinking..front u joints. No noise at all. Does fine going straight or moderate speed curves.
  • Could be the front drive u-joints going bad although I wouldn't think they'd be bad at 50,000. Any noise at all?