oem sealer is not black its red or gray

 

I'll explain more......

The 2 orignials were on it when it was delivered to me, because I had them replace the two others, due to a nail in one too close to the sidewall, and 2 plugs in the other. The tires WERE rotated, because the tread was evenly worn on all 4, and at 36K, that doesn't happen accidentally. Although, I think the previous owner lived next to a nail factory....

As it turns out, the rear fluid may have been changed, according to one member, if infact, the original differential cover sealer isn't black.

As for the other failures, there's not ONE on there, that you can attribute to "Not doing maintenace".

The balljoints aren't servicable and failed at 38K, as do MANY others here.

Posi-clips are a known problem, hence Mopar's "Redesigned" clip for replacement.

Front crank seal.......MANY failures here too.

Radiator, window switch and the squeeking, all has NOTHING to do with regular maintenance, before 36K.

I'd imagine my P/S rack is next to leak............{{shudder}}

I agree that the truck wasn't taken care of to the dregree myself or some other members take care of their vehicles, but there were no signs of abuse.

 

89,000 miles and no problems until recently a u joint went out

 

Good for you........... that's good to hear.

 

Yeah, unfortunately, it's getting to be a crap shoot no matter what brand you get anymore. There seem to be more common failures among all truck makers. Hell, both hunting buddies I know with 'Yota Tundras have had them in the shop multiple times with everything from rear axle (ring & pinion) failures to an actual cam shaft failure.
It's kinda like when I was a teen and everyone wanted a Harley, but you had to carry a tool set on the bike to get from point A to point B every time...

 

I don't know what dodge is doing, My 06 has had minor issues and proven to a 10000 times more dependable than my last fords, but I know co workers who have nothing but grief with Dodge, Ford, and all the brands.

For a truck, I'm convinced you have to go to a 3/4 ton to by- pass the weak links in the 1500 Ram, F-150, ect.

Sad truth is you pay your money and roll the dice, you never know what your getting until you got it.

A lot of the suspension parts are made by one company that supplies dodge, gm ford, and what is a ford part, gm part or dodge part is out sourced to the cheapest place to build it.

 

I am with Hoss... I would bet you got horn-swaggled into thinking it was babied. After all who buys tires for a truck in 2's? Like Hoss said I get he never rotated the tires fromt he front and they just wore out. Not rotating your tires shows bad maintanence habits which often extend to the rest of the trucks needs.

Plus that was the first year run for the new(at the time) body style so you also get all the bugs that go with them. Mine is an '04 and alot of the bugs (not all) got worked out by then and so explains why I havent had any engine/tranny issues althought he dealer took it upon themselves to find out/replace a bad steering rack and upper control arms/ball joints @ about 50K miles.