1) my brakes are real touchy and the rear drums lock up when cruising down my street at 15-20mph!

2) Burning through front pads in 20k miles

3) if I want to straight my my diesel, should I worry about getting additional gauges?

4) RPM needle goes from up and down when in 3rd/4th gear transition. Is it my tranny or could there be an electrical resolution? It doesnt feel like its slipping in and out of gear and has no big clunk or jerk like its missing

I have replaced the master cylider and have had my lines cleaned. My ABS light is on and has been since I inherited the truck. No one can seem to find a fault. Could it be the proportion valve? vaccum pump? Calipers?

I had tranny service about a year ago to take care of some internal leaking and then about 4 months after that is when the RPM needle satred to dance

 

Welcome to the site. I will move this thread to the second generation Ram section,
FF

 

Take the wheels off, and pull the drums. Have a look at your assorted brake parts. If the rears are worn, replace them. (mine had issues as the rivets were digging into the drum.)

For the fronts, make sure the calipers are not seized on the guides, and the pistons move 'freely'. (kind of a nebulous term when referring to the caliper pistons, they don't move that easily even when new....)

Still have the original soft lines? May wanna replace those. They collapse internally, and will not let the pressure back off.... keeping your brakes slightly engaged. (which leads to accelerated wear)

Also, you have a diesel.... I.E. Big and heavy. 20K might be average life for front brakes on that. Not sure there though. Might try using some premium quality pads though.

 

The rears sound like you may have the shoes reversed. They can be very grabby with the trailing and leading shoes are reversed. It is very easy to do because the shoes look identical except one has a little more friction material than the other.

As for the fronts, are you a left footed braker?