Front Ends - Especially Dodge

[HadEnough]

I just had a complete front end replacement job about 2 years ago. They replaced pretty much everything.

I just brought the truck and camper in to get 4 new tires mounted, balanced and aligned. The take away is I need new CV joints, idler arm, etc, etc... It's all loose again only 2 years later!! Plenty of play in the front wheels.

What the heck is going on?

I read that Dodge pickup trucks are notorious for having problems with the front end, but spending $2000-$3000 every 2 years on front ends seems insane.

What's your experience with this problem? Especially on the vehicle you use to haul your TC?

Also, isn't this extremely dangerous? What if one of these loose CV joints pops out when I'm driving down the highway with the TC?

[Grit_dog]

^ Everyones opinion of what is “bad, wore out, unsafe, or just generally undesirable “ is different.
It stands to reason that that is the part of the reason some trucks last longer than others.
When you see a tread like this where some claim adding a part improved a condition markedly and that part doesn’t even appreciably affect that function you begin to get the picture.
I’m sure in your case 10 differnet people could drive one of the trucks you say is fine and 6 of them would have a complaint.

[agteacher]

We have 3 1999 Dodges. A 2500 and 2- 3500 trucks, all diesels. One has 130,000 miles, one has 210,000 miles, and the 2500 has 310,000 miles. We did the front end a.few years ago on the 2500. No problem before or since. Took the truck in for alignment and mechanic asked us when we last had it aligned. Never. He could not believe the truck was still running straight with worn out parts. He showed us the truck on the rack and told us to purchase Moog parts. He would align it once new parts were installed. We purchased Moog parts from RockAuto. We did purchase upgraded parts where possible. 100,000 miles later, still not showing wear and lifetime warranty. Buy the best parts you can afford.

[Grit_dog]

Yes, 03 was the first year of a new chassis. Only major carryover components were the transmissions, and the diesel, but it was significantly changed too.
Similar front suspension design, but different axle in the 4wds. Dana in the 2nd Gen AAM in the 3rd gen.
Not the cause of problems with your truck per se, but the 3rd gens were supposed to be stouter.
Both had/have weak steering box mounts and questionable steering box quality. I have a brace on my 07 steering box, not because it steered bad, but because I saw one that parted ways with the truck frame. Not a great design but the brace is a good fix.

[hedgehopper]

Grit dog wrote:

hedgehopper wrote:

TCINTN wrote:
I have been watching this conversation because I have a 2006 3500 Dodge CDI SRW. I have 240,000 miles on it and I am starting to wonder when the front end is going to start acting up.

Our 2002 Dodge 2WD 3500 dually was already acting up when we bought it with 18,000 miles on the clock. When we hit a bump at highway speeds, the front end would shake and the driver had to hang onto the steering wheel to keep the truck going straight ahead.
(This was while carrying our Northern Lite 10-2 CD. We have seldom had the NL off. So I can’t say what was the extent of the problem with the truck unloaded.)
As I wrote elsewhere on this thread, installation of a steering stabilizer kit solved the problem.

And your truck could not be more different than his. 2 completely different chassis.

Please elaborate. Did the front end design change between 2002 and 2006?

[TCINTN]

Grit dog wrote:

hedgehopper wrote:

TCINTN wrote:
I have been watching this conversation because I have a 2006 3500 Dodge CDI SRW. I have 240,000 miles on it and I am starting to wonder when the front end is going to start acting up.

Our 2002 Dodge 2WD 3500 dually was already acting up when we bought it with 18,000 miles on the clock. When we hit a bump at highway speeds, the front end would shake and the driver had to hang onto the steering wheel to keep the truck going straight ahead.
(This was while carrying our Northern Lite 10-2 CD. We have seldom had the NL off. So I can’t say what was the extent of the problem with the truck unloaded.)

As I wrote elsewhere on this thread, installation of a steering stabilizer kit solved the problem.

And your truck could not be more different than his. 2 completely different chassis.

Thanks for the help.
I only have my NL 811 on truck when I go camping or disasters. Average about 100 days per year since I have gotten old.

[Grit_dog]

hedgehopper wrote:

TCINTN wrote:
I have been watching this conversation because I have a 2006 3500 Dodge CDI SRW. I have 240,000 miles on it and I am starting to wonder when the front end is going to start acting up.

Our 2002 Dodge 2WD 3500 dually was already acting up when we bought it with 18,000 miles on the clock. When we hit a bump at highway speeds, the front end would shake and the driver had to hang onto the steering wheel to keep the truck going straight ahead.
(This was while carrying our Northern Lite 10-2 CD. We have seldom had the NL off. So I can’t say what was the extent of the problem with the truck unloaded.)

As I wrote elsewhere on this thread, installation of a steering stabilizer kit solved the problem.

And your truck could not be more different than his. 2 completely different chassis.

[hedgehopper]

TCINTN wrote:
I have been watching this conversation because I have a 2006 3500 Dodge CDI SRW. I have 240,000 miles on it and I am starting to wonder when the front end is going to start acting up.

Our 2002 Dodge 2WD 3500 dually was already acting up when we bought it with 18,000 miles on the clock. When we hit a bump at highway speeds, the front end would shake and the driver had to hang onto the steering wheel to keep the truck going straight ahead.
(This was while carrying our Northern Lite 10-2 CD. We have seldom had the NL off. So I can’t say what was the extent of the problem with the truck unloaded.)

As I wrote elsewhere on this thread, installation of a steering stabilizer kit solved the problem.

[TCINTN]

I have been watching this conversation because I have a 2006 3500 Dodge CDI SRW. I have 240,000 miles on it and I am starting to wonder when the front end is going to start acting up.To begin with my mechanical knowledge is somewhat limited to doing oil changes,putting new batteries in and new windshield wipers and such. I am not big on crawling under the truck accept for oil change. After all of that,what should I expect with the front end of the truck I have now. I do not get off road that much and I tend to be a conservative driver and stay out of folks way.
Thanks

[opnspaces]

HadEnough wrote:
Holding at 9:00 and 3:00 shaking against the toe.

You can see some movement in the lower ball joint doing that.

I was able to see that at the place trying to sell me a front end. Was able to shake it and see steering gear moving.

Typically visually seeing movement is not a good sign. One way you can check for loose tierod ends is to use a trusted helper. Block the wheels and turn the ignition key to unlock the steering wheel but do not start the truck. Now have your helper move the steering wheel slightly back and forth, it doesn't take much you're just looking to load the joints not actually turn the wheels. While the helper is moving the wheel crawl under the front and watch all the joints including the tierods, idler and pitman arm (arm from steering box. If you have a loose joint it should be obvious visually compared to the other joints.

Also I know it was said a few times on here but I'll also say it. Definitely get a second opinion before spending the money replacing parts.

[mountainkowboy]

Grit dog wrote:

HadEnough wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

HadEnough wrote:
I don't need to jack it up. I can shake the front wheel with my bare hands about 1/4".

I think I'm at 30-40k since last front end. Been driving all around the continent.

Coulda said that 6 pages ago! Jk.
sounds like they’re shot

Still. Isn't that a bit ridiculous?

$2000-$3000 of front end work every 30,000 miles?

Yes, it's absolutely ridiculous. I agree. Even with heavy wheels, rough roads, camper etc I'd expect more miles. Double that at least.
May have gotten cheap parts, idk.

one of the many reasons we got rid of the 97, the Dodge parts were falling apart

[hedgehopper]

Grit dog wrote:

HadEnough wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

HadEnough wrote:
I don't need to jack it up. I can shake the front wheel with my bare hands about 1/4".
I think I'm at 30-40k since last front end. Been driving all around the continent.

Coulda said that 6 pages ago! Jk.
sounds like they’re shot

Still. Isn't that a bit ridiculous?
$2000-$3000 of front end work every 30,000 miles?

Yes, it's absolutely ridiculous. I agree. Even with heavy wheels, rough roads, camper etc I'd expect more miles. Double that at least.
May have gotten cheap parts, idk.

If the front end of your truck had the shakes the way ours did before I installed the steering stabilizer, I think all that shaking would accelerate the wear of the front-end components significantly.

[Grit_dog]

hedgehopper wrote:

Grit Dog wrote:
It could also have too much toe in and have the same wear (as negative camber).

Wouldn't toe OUT cause the same wear as negative camber (on the inside edge of the tires)?

Yes you're right. I was thinking backwards.
Any significant toe out though and the truck would handle squirrely. Maybe part of the issue? Good point.

[Grit_dog]

HadEnough wrote:

Grit dog wrote:

HadEnough wrote:
I don't need to jack it up. I can shake the front wheel with my bare hands about 1/4".

I think I'm at 30-40k since last front end. Been driving all around the continent.

Coulda said that 6 pages ago! Jk.
sounds like they’re shot

Still. Isn't that a bit ridiculous?

$2000-$3000 of front end work every 30,000 miles?

Yes, it's absolutely ridiculous. I agree. Even with heavy wheels, rough roads, camper etc I'd expect more miles. Double that at least.
May have gotten cheap parts, idk.

[HadEnough]

Grit dog wrote:

HadEnough wrote:
I don't need to jack it up. I can shake the front wheel with my bare hands about 1/4".

I think I'm at 30-40k since last front end. Been driving all around the continent.

Coulda said that 6 pages ago! Jk.
sounds like they’re shot

Still. Isn't that a bit ridiculous?

$2000-$3000 of front end work every 30,000 miles?