Hey guys im looking at ditching my winter beater (93 cav 2.2 5psd) for a major upgrade. Looking for a 3rd gen quad cab with the 5.7 4x4. Either ST or SLT. Doesnt matter if its manual or auto.

Got a couple ques though. Once in a while I might haul my buddys motorboat to the lake or haul my celica to the odd scca events. Just wondering if theres any difference in the gearing between a slt and st. Also does the ST come with LSD in the rear?

Do these trucks have any particular issues for certain years?? I just looked through dirty dogs post is there any other things I should be looking for??

In my line of work have driven all kinds of fords from a 2006 f350 powerstroke, 06 f250 v10, 2010 f150 and I hated every single one of them for different reasons. The 06 powerstroke started chugging coolant, the v10 eat fuel pumps, had trouble with the TB, open diffs got stuck in more places than my cavalier would. Both those two trucks went into a death shake everytime u go over expansion joints on a bridge, or hit washboards on a gravel road. Down right dangerous trucks.

And now my fav the 2010 xlt quad cab long box. The transfer case hangs 8" off the ground, and ive bottomed out i dont know how many times. Traction control is the biggest pos! It applies the abs when a wheel slips so if trying to hammer through mud it brakes and u get stuck. It automatically turns itself on everytime u switch from 2wd to 4x4 or vice versa, turn on the truck. Sorry im just venting on how much I hate ford. I wish my company would stop being cheap and get away from ford junk.

 

Being an original 03 owner I would steer you away from buying that particular model. My choice would be a clean low mileage 05 loaded with options if i wasn't buying new. Good luck

 

05 is your best bet I'd say. They're good trucks, just swap out that limited slip before it explodes. On my truck there is a build sheet in the glovebox that tells me if I have a limited slip.

 

The one truck im looking at has 134,000 kms. Its a silver 2004 5.7 quad cab ST, rubber floors, crank windows, and just a radio. Which is fine by me, this trucks not going to be a daily driver.

Did any of u guys have leaking power steering fluid? I been hearing this is a common problem for ram. My buddys 07 cummins just sprung a small power steering leak last weekend.

 

Haven't yet, but I've heard its a hose that cracks at the end, the hose can be replaced, or it can be cut and reattached, depending on how bad the crack is

 

I believe it is common. When mine sits for long periods it sometimes leak. So far I fill it up and it stops. My niegbhors 04 did exactly the same thing after sitting for a month.