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.

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?

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.

What you said, front U joints. Simple to check. Jack up one front wheel of the truck with the steering turned all the way either left or right. Try and rotate the wheel by hand. If it's hard to do, there's your problem, then do the other side. There is a company in the US that makes CV joints with the axle for 2500/2500 RAMs similar to these. Get them installed and the problem doesn't come back. The ones I saw were around $500 and a direct fit for newer RAMs. https://www.rcvperformance.com/axlesets/dodge/dodge-ram-2500-3500-rcv-axle-set.html

Ram 3500 issue | Good Sam Community

IdaD
Explorer
Aug 26, 2021
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?
TxGearhead
Explorer II
Aug 26, 2021
What I'm thinking..front u joints. No noise at all. Does fine going straight or moderate speed curves.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Aug 26, 2021
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
TxGearhead
Explorer II
Aug 26, 2021
What I'm thinking..front u joints. No noise at all. Does fine going straight or moderate speed curves.
Fisherman
Explorer
Aug 27, 2021
What you said, front U joints. Simple to check. Jack up one front wheel of the truck with the steering turned all the way either left or right. Try and rotate the wheel by hand. If it's hard to do, there's your problem, then do the other side. There is a company in the US that makes CV joints with the axle for 2500/2500 RAMs similar to these. Get them installed and the problem doesn't come back. The ones I saw were around $500 and a direct fit for newer RAMs. https://www.rcvperformance.com/axlesets/dodge/dodge-ram-2500-3500-rcv-axle-set.html
TxGearhead
Explorer II
Aug 27, 2021
Does the 2018 Ram 3500 have the infamous Ram plastic u joints, like earlier 2500?
blofgren
Explorer
Aug 27, 2021
Have you replaced the rear differential fluid? Mine was starting to act as you describe and the problem disappeared when I replaced the factory fluid with Amsoil Severe Gear. The factory fluid is junk; I would have replaced it when the truck was brand new if I had known that at the time.
TxGearhead
Explorer II
Aug 27, 2021
I'm changing my mind, or losing it. I've been hard on the road and am wore out. In my original post I almost said it feels like a broke pinion or ring gear.
I'll be home tonight and will be shopping for synthetic gear oil. I'll do that before the dealer runs a bill on me changing parts.
MFL
Nomad II
Aug 27, 2021
No experience with Amsoil synthetic gear lube, but have noticed Cummins 12V recommend this many times. He tows heavy, covers lots of miles. I believe he changes to this lube not long after new truck purchase. While no one is right about all things, involving trucks, tires, or products, he has a very good average!

Jerry
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 27, 2021
"Taking off from a stop and turning it acts like it's in 4 wheel drive"

Have you aver changed your rear axle gear lube???

Jerry thanks for the kind words!!!

My rear grabbed like in 4wd and it was the OE lube was shot. Schlage to AMZ/OIL 75-110 Severe Gear and my troubles vanished.

Don't use OE lube it's JUNK and VERY expensive.

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