Hey guys,
I just bought the truck in my sig below, it only has 87k miles on it. The last 4 years it was only driven about 7k miles. It needs a bit of TLC and I need some advice

1. None of the guages, except for the speedometer and the odometer work including the Tach. The instrument panel lights work fine.
2. The wheel bearing seems to be bad on the passenger front, how bad is it to change it out yourself?
3. I need to install a class 3 hitch, is U-Haul just as good as any?
4. The transmission doesn't shift too well when cold, I'm going to change out the fluid and filter to see if it helps
5. What all should I do to make the truck reliable for long trips besides the tune up items? what are the weak spots? I'll be towing about 5000lbs with it 6 or 7 times a year...over some steep grades.
6. The steering and suspension seem vague, wallowy - anything can be done to tighten it up a bit?
7. Where should I buy replacement parts I like to fix something once and fix it right.

Thanks guys, I'm pretty excited about it!

 

I forgot one more thing. I keep hearing 'pink, pink, pink' sound as the right front tire is rolling. The frequency changes with the speed of the car. Not sure what it can be. Do the 1st gen ball joints fail in a catastrophic way like the 2nd gens do?

 

Try checking all fueses and wires for the gauges. The Pink Pink sound may be a rock stuck in the tires. The supension, steering Deffently should be checked. Make sure all ball joints and tie rods are good, and bushings. U-Haul is a good brand. Just as long as it is installed correctly. Just replace tune up parts like wires cap rotor plugs. Fuel filter, Bleed brakes. I do alot of hauling too. What do you haul. Oh ya if you dont already, install an extra tranny cooler behind the raid. Since your going on hills while towing I suggestget the best brake rotors pads as possible.

 

Hey, thanks for the info. Well I haven't towed anything but my race car is to the point where it's no longer practical to drive so I'll be towing that. The race car weighs about 2500lbs + 500lbs worth of parts, tools and a 2000lb uhaul trailer so about 5000lbs total. I don't see GCVW rating on the door jamb label. Do you know what it is? is 5000lbs within the tow rating?

Also, what are considered good rotors and pads? Does Dodge make some heavy duty ones?

The pink pink sound is actually more of a clunk clunk sound similar to the front wheel drive axle sound...it sounds like a suspension thing.

Thanks

 

What kind of car you got. I have a TA that is a drag strip only car. Are you sure your car is 2,500 lbs that is extremly light. Im maybe pushing 3,400 with it completly gutted out. Unless you got a funny car or something. For best brake parts I suggest Napa.
WellMy owners manual say with a rear end ratioof3.55:1 GCWRof 9,200,and the rare3.9:1GCWR10,500. So if you minus the truck 4,000 and driver and any pasangers and full tank of gas and if there is anything in the bed. So your looking at 5,000 or so for 3.55 or 6,300 for the 3.9. (Good thing I got 3.9 ratio)

 

I'm not sure what kind of rear gear ration I have probably 3.55 - Oh I have a road-race (not street race) Integra. It's gutted, full cage etc.

 

Sounds idiotic, but have you checked to ensure the lug nuts are tight on the right front? If it's loose it could be wobbling slightly causing that kind of noise, especially in a left turn. Of course it could also be the bearing, same basic noise. Also, if you're going to be hauling, just as in racing a good set of slotted and drilled rotors and braided stainless lines will help immensely. Ceramic pads would be nice too, but they'd be expen$ive and probably hard to find, hafta check into that.

 

I'll dig into it tomorrow and will report back. The frame rails have some surface rust too and this is a Southern CA truck! Anyway to coat it with Rustoleum without lifting the whole body off the frames?

Can anything be done to improve the vague, floaty steering feedback at highway speeds. The road feel is awful...maybe I'm used to driving small low to the ground race cars but if the Dakota could be 'modernized' a bit that would be nice and confidence inspiring. Maybe it needs a good alignment with positive caster and some good modern tires?

 

OK guys I checked out the truck this morning.

The good:
I gave it a good tune up with fresh Mopar parts - the clunk, clunk sound is fixed. It was the wheel bearing cap that was bouncing around inside the hub cap - wish more problems were this easy to fix

The bad:
1. The car had very little engine oil, undoing the filter didn't drip any oil [:-] - not sure if it uses oil or if it drips it, we shall find out. I'm surprised it takes only 4.5qts of oil for a 5.2L V8! My 2.8L v6 bmw takes almost 7qts.
2. The transmission oil was really low as well
3. The diff is leaking
4. The motor mounts and shocks bushings are cracked pretty badly as well as the overall suspension bushings.

 

The good:
1. These magnum engines are tough. The oil level may not have done any noticeable damage. Especially with as little driving as it's had. Possible the oil just destabilized to the point it burned off due to the engine block heat.
2. New shocks will probably help with that "floaty" feel.
3. Tranny oil, see #1

The bad:
1. Leaky diff. Nuff said, hope it's just a gasket replacement.
2. The motor mounts are a pain. I have to change mine, and I already dread it just from getting in there and looking at it.

Glad you found the clunk and it was an easy fix. These are great trucks, and relatively easy to work on. Good luck with it.