Are you dropping into N while moving? My 97' wont even let the shifter go past 4hi if the shifter is not in N on the column.

 

Yeah.

 

I'm pretty sure my front dana is an open difff.. seems Dodge took the cheap way out and I know the one on my Jeep was not and you can tell the difference.

 

If the rear is open the front is too. I know our ram will spin all 4 in 4wd

 

Rear is LSD.

 

Ok well thinking about it. I am wrong(yes admiting it lol) having a lsd in the front wouldnt work.(DUH just one of those moments)

 

i bought the truck used, no owners manual of course -.- the tech ed teacher rock climbs so wheels would lock tight when they get wedged between rocks and whatnot. glad to know their not as weak as i thought.

 

I'll tell you something at least with my Kota; the stearing is really loose.. and needs some help; on my Jeep it was outfited with a shock on the stearing to keep it from jaring and such when off roading or hitting tires up against something.. which would in tern help stabilize the stearing going down the high way removing that back and forth walking it tends to do..

I'm going to be checking out what i can put on this truck as is to do just that.

I miss my jeep LOL>

 

my steering has a "dead spot" you can move the wheel side to side about 20 degrees and the wheels dont move (when the wheels are straight), same kind of looseness your talking about? I have the 5spd manual but i put the clutch in before i shift to 4hi

 

This type of steering always seem to loosen up over time. Most of the time it's in the gear box it self **so long as rest of the components are with in tolerance. I know mine is in the gear box.. but if you look while turning.. you might see slight movement but you will feel it in your steering well loose then you will feel it. I'm not sure I know older Trucks; like ford included an adjustment to adjust this very problem' I'm not sure if my model or any other have it. Some people have suggested no; and only a quality aftermarket has the adjustment.

I'm going to have a shop; take a look.