Hello everyone...it finally stopped raining for a few days and I went under my truck and I think I noticed some BIG problems. I purchased a 1998 Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4 with 140k miles for very cheap, $1600. The guy said he lost his job..yada yada yada. Long story short he probably took me for a ride. I mean I knew it would have some issues based on the age and the price, but now I'm scared. I'll try to insert pix.

http://s584.photobucket.com/albums/ss281/dharmajairam/


What I saw:

1) Rear main seal issue? Where the motor bolts to the tranny I noticed there is a little bit of oil there. There isn't a huge amount, but it is definitely there. Looks like some of it dripped near the tranny pan, but I can tell its definitely oil from the color and not tranny fluid. Weird thing is that both the oil level and tranny fluid level are fine...so why does it appear to be leaking oil from that seal?

2) Rear pinion seal is leaking, based on my previous post. When I took it to my mechanic for the inspection he confirmed this.

3) I live in the northeast and due to snow/salt the Rear shacles are toast from being extremely rusted. And I'm pretty sure the rear springs should also be replaced due to rust.

4) Had to replace a brake line due to rust.

5) Body mounts are rusted. I'll try to include a picture of the worst one.

6) No way to tell (for me anyway) if the tranny is original or been serviced. I haven't noticed issues with it, but I've read on here about tranny problems.


So....basically, did I make a HUGE mistake or what? I might be better off just selling it to someone more willing to dump a lot of work in it. I'm worried it would turn into a money pit.

 

some pix

 

I thought the same thing shortly after buying mine. I had to rebuild my tranny, replace all tie rod ends, power steering pump went out, stereo doesn't work (still doesn't), plenum was blown, shocks were toast, wheel bearings and ujoints were bad, front/rear diff fluid was original and had water in it, brakes were gone, water pump leaked, all sensors were bad (replaced them one by one) and on and on.

Now that I've put more money into the truc than I bought it for, I like it (I'll like it more when I convert it to a manual. 46RE FTL). You can always turn around a resell it for what you paid.

 

Well I don't think I would go and replace the leafs or shackles. Its normal wear and tare. Just fix what needs to be fixed and run it as is.

 

That may be a rear main seal, but it looks more like a oil pan gasket leak. My rear main leaked down the back of the dust cover and out the little dimple, not down the back of the oil pan. Only way to tell is to pull it and verify.

There's a DIY here: http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech/rearmain.php

It takes about 6 hours and 6 beers the first time you do it. I can now do it in 4 hour and 6 beers.

 

With the rear shackles like they are, is it safe to drive?

 

i would replace the shackles.......theres been a couple of guys on here that have had broken shackles due to rust

 

Personaly they don't look in the best shape. But you only paid 1600 bucks for the truck. So why replace a ton of parts on something that you only paid 1600 for? Like I said fix just what needs to be fixed.

 

It will only turn into a money pit if you let it. The rust doesn't look that bad to me at all. Like Squirrels says, just track down the source of your oil leak and deal with that. Use the truck for what you bought it for, daily driver and some occaisonal wheeling and be happy with it. Sell it when you feel like you got what you needed out of it.

 

Concerning the oil leak, the oil appears to be coming from somewhere higher than where the main seal is.

do this...totally clean the engine at the car wash. Then watch for oil trails every day for a week and try to isolate the highest point of the oil leak (hence it's origin).

my bet is that it is leaking from the valve covers and running down.

BTW...for $1600 I think you did just fine.