Ram Cummins/Aisin Failures
Been hearing and reading about Cummins, Emission and Aisin failures on the 5th gen Ram trucks. Cummins Failure
Forum Discussion
Cabin fever is getting bad in Katy TX apparently.
And, yeah, the “ball joints are shot” ruse by alignment and repair shops is now decades old. (Maybe older but the internet didn’t let folks share with the world until aboot 20 years ago)
I had one of those trucks “with bad ball joints” at like 70k miles. Took for an alignment, unrelated to ball joints. Got the call, “we can’t align anything but the toe since your ball joints are worn out.” Lol
Well you could adjust caster but I told you don’t fck with those adjusters and you’re right, you can’t adjust camber…..nor could you ever as it’s not “adjustable” per se. But thanks for asking.
About 100k later. Thought I had another alignment issue and unable to look over the vehicle myself, too busy. Have wife take it for an alignment. Same thing as previous time years earlier. Except this time the shop also “couldn’t get the tie rod adjuster loose”. Gonna news ball joints and a new tie rod (not sloppy btw).
At least that mechanic leveled with me after the service dork tried upselling me. The toe was aboot perfect and he suggested it could be a bad tire.
It was. Swapped tires front to rear when I got time and the “alignment” issue disappeared.
Sold at 190k miles and tires were still wearing straight as a board and drove fine.
Yes ball joints can and do wear out. However many shops use the small amount of acceptable axial play as a mechanism for selling more parts n labor. Period.
Good warning to those who aren’t as savvy. If your camber is les than maybe 0.2 deg, the BJS ain’t wore out.
And, yeah, the “ball joints are shot” ruse by alignment and repair shops is now decades old. (Maybe older but the internet didn’t let folks share with the world until aboot 20 years ago)
I had one of those trucks “with bad ball joints” at like 70k miles. Took for an alignment, unrelated to ball joints. Got the call, “we can’t align anything but the toe since your ball joints are worn out.” Lol
Well you could adjust caster but I told you don’t fck with those adjusters and you’re right, you can’t adjust camber…..nor could you ever as it’s not “adjustable” per se. But thanks for asking.
About 100k later. Thought I had another alignment issue and unable to look over the vehicle myself, too busy. Have wife take it for an alignment. Same thing as previous time years earlier. Except this time the shop also “couldn’t get the tie rod adjuster loose”. Gonna news ball joints and a new tie rod (not sloppy btw).
At least that mechanic leveled with me after the service dork tried upselling me. The toe was aboot perfect and he suggested it could be a bad tire.
It was. Swapped tires front to rear when I got time and the “alignment” issue disappeared.
Sold at 190k miles and tires were still wearing straight as a board and drove fine.
Yes ball joints can and do wear out. However many shops use the small amount of acceptable axial play as a mechanism for selling more parts n labor. Period.
Good warning to those who aren’t as savvy. If your camber is les than maybe 0.2 deg, the BJS ain’t wore out.
