I have a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 ext. cab automatic tranny with about 114,000 miles. The truck has a rebuilt title and it was recently wrecked a second time by my mother. After it was wrecked we noticed a very violent bouncing in the front end when braking or making a turn. I came to the conclusion that it had to be something in the driver's side front suspension. We took it to a mechanic and had the brakes replaced (new lines, rotors, calipers) and had the ball joints replaced. That didn't help at all. I finally decided to take a good look underneath and went all the way back on the left side of the truck and found a bracket for the wheel assembly that is welded onto the frame had broken in half and was dangling, causing the entire upper assembly for the left front wheel to be held on with only one bracket. Very scary. Luckily, the insurace company covered the cost of the repairs and the problem went away. Unfortunatly, the problem has returned, but only when hitting medium to large sized bumps. Its not the brakes and I'm not the only person complaining of the exact same problem. It is very frustrating. I think that new shocks should solve the problem, because i think that they have worn down and now the springs are causing the truck to bounce, but i want another opinion. Thats my first problem.
My second problem is in my transmission. I have pretty much narrowed it down to a torque converter fluid flow problem. What happens is when the truck has been sitting for a while (over an hour after being driven for a while) the reverse gear won't engage unless I rev the engine up to about 1100 rpms and hold it there for about 5 minutes (it will engage after holding it steady at that engine speed) or just flooring the gas and it engages very hard and violently (i've only done that a couple of times. It can't be good on the tranny, driveshaft, or the rear-end). Drive will engage fine, but it won't shift out of second unless I drive the truck for about 15 minutes or floor the gas and the engine almost red-lines (I don't do that either). What happens is the truck seems like it shifts between neutral and 2nd gear while driving. Once it has warmed up it shifts into 3rd gear and then into over-drive and it will shift absolutly perfectly after that. Even into reverse if i park for a little bit. http://www.transmissionpartsusa.com has something called sonnax sure-cure kit that includes a manual valve and a lube regulated pressure valve that claims to fix this problem by fixing the flow to the torque converter. I believe this will fix my problem.

 

24 hits and no replies?

 

I don't know if I can help you all that much, but you came here with questions and no one else has helped. So I'll give it a try.

I'd agree with you about your bouncing front end being the shocks. They are either worn out or too stiff. Have you tried getting the front to bob up and down by pushing down on the front bumper. If the shocks are shot, you'll probably be able to bounce it and increase its momentum. If they're too stiff, the front end wouldn't bounce, but it would be more of a bone jarring experience for the passengers.

Now about the tranny. Are you aware of the fact that the '94 to'00 Dodge Ram's are notorious for failing trannies? I guess that the kit you mentioned could cure your tranny problems. I've never heard of this product and don't know of anyone who's used it, so my opinion on it would be uneducated, and I'll keep it to myself. I personally think that your tranny is going to hell. With 114,000 miles, it is entirely possible. I've heard of them needing to be replaced after 10,000 miles and at the same time, my old '97 Ram had over 150,000 miles on the original tranny with no problems at all. If it were my truck, I would replace the tranny and torque converter.

Good luck with your truck. I'd like to know how everything turns out. If you decide to try out the tranny kit, I'm really interested in how that turns out.

Bob

 

Thanks for the advice. I need to try to check those shocks. My tranny was rebuilt a little over a year ago by my local dodge dealership. And about 2 months ago, i had the filter and fluid checked and changed. The fluid was a mess. I must mention this: Today my truck shifted flawlessly, except for this morning when it wouldn't go into reverse. But going down the highway today and after it had sat for about 6 hours, it shifted perfectly. I am in total awe. Maybe it fixed itself? Maybe not. I surely hope that it is better. The thing that gets me, it hasn't shifted like that in almost 6 months. Thanks again for your advice and if my tranny truely isn't better, then i'll probably buy that kit and new torque converter. It's better then forking over $500 and up for a new tranny.

 

Not sure about your suspension concerns but the transmission issue is the front pump, it's called loss of prime. What you are looking at is a band-aid fix.

 

This is wierd. Check this out dodgemech. Yesterday and today, my transmission has shifted absolulty perfectly. Just like normal. Jus like it was off the showroom floor! I didn't do anything to it. This is the first time it's done it in over 5 months. What's up with that?