Good morning. I recently purchased a 99 Ram 4x4, and I am unfamiliar with driving a 4x4 before. When turning, it seems like there is more resistance in steering than my 2 wheel drive Ram. The 4x4 is not engaged, and there is no clunking at all. When pulling into my driveway, there is a concrete slab that you catch in mid turn between the gravel. The tires kinda grinds across it, instead on rolling freely. You can also notice less of a want to come out of a turn while on pavement than the 2 wheel drive I have.

If this is normal, let me know. It looks like the shock that goes across the front axle linkabe is fairly rusty if that matters. It has 73,000 miles on it.

Thanks all!

 

Check all your front end parts for wear/slop/binding. Jack up the front end, and roll the tires, might have a caliper sticking as well.

Welcome to DF!

 

Sounds great. I will give that a shot. Thanks much.

 

Don't forget to fix the plenum!

 

got enough steering fluid?

lift up the front end of the truck and try to turn the wheels back and forth by pushing/pulling on one of the tires. they should turn fairly easily. like HeyYou said, check the brake caliper. make sure the piston is retracting and isnt grabbing the rotor. are you getting any pull while driving down the road?

make sure tie-rods are able to move freely. if everything checks out maybe check the steering gear box. just disconnect the drag link joint from the pitman arm and see if the pitman arm moves without much resistance. (remember to have the key in the ignition so the steering wheel doesnt lock while doing all this).

 

lift the front tire off the ground and put a crow bar under the tire and lift up tire should not move if it doses ball jo\ints are shot