ha, that engine sounds like the only difference we have (i gots the 318)
one thing you need to do is look down the TB and check the plenum for oil pooling...wait so do i (que Homer Simpson dohhh)

 

send an email off here and in the first line write "request for build sheet and recall info" and they wil email you a build sheet and tell if any recalls need performed or have been

http://www-5.dodge.com/wccsapp/unive...ull&category=U

 

actually come to think of it, my momma never told me that, or at least i dont remember

and btw, i am liable to be a bastard sometimes

 

so is it a dodge ram truck or a dodge ram car? that statement is a little conflicting.
i'm just messin with ya. so with the truck, get under the front end and inspect all your rubber bushings, if they're worn out you will have squishy steering and maybe a slight shimmy. also while you're under there grab the tie rods and give them a good shake while paying attention to the pivot points. rotation is fine but if any of them can jiggle/move in the socket then its bad.

if you really want to stiffen up the suspension then you can go with the energy suspension polyeurothane bushing kit. the only drawback to polyeurothane is that they squeak if they aren't greased regularly. i'm eventually going to do poly bushings myself and i don't care about the squeaking, my exhaust will drown it out.

one other thing you can do is take one end of your steering stabilizer loose and see if it pushes in easily, if it does then its bad.

oh yeah, one last thing, shocks will help handling if yours are bad to begin with. plan on about 200$ for a good set. the most referred shock on this forum is the bilsteins. i got sensa tracs and i like them a lot better than the stock shocks with 124k on em'.