Hey guys I had a post earlier and with the help I got from that and plus more symptoms I have just about got it down to I have blown U-Joints. 4x4 is no longer an option while turning (terrible grinding sound... Like something is disconnected??) and I have to be reeeaaalll easy on the pedal or else it starts making that noise as if something is slipping and it feels as if the whole front end is slipping.. this is not good seems how we are getting hit with a snow storm for the next day or 2.

Any advice?? I have personally never done U-joints of any kind before...

 

well if it is u joints, their a PITA but what you can do is, try first, use a bench vice if ya got one, and use a socket bigger than the u joint cap on one side, and one thats a lil smaller than the cap on the other side, and use the vice like a pres..... i had a hard time with this but it was on a 22yo toyota....maybe easier on newer dodge..also if its u joints should be a constant poping grinding noise and shouldnt matter if your turning or not...it would matter if it was ur cv axle.....just a thought..

 

You know... I was just talking to a few of my buddies and they said it sounded more like a CV axle... Cuz they said a U joint shouldn't matter when your turning or not.. Just another question I guess could this be due to cranked T-Bars??

 

yeah, it puts more stress on the cv axle, the less angle there at the better, but really the best thing would be a lockout hub, like on older vehicles, then nothing in the front end is spinning unless you get out and lock in your hubs but you can check ur cv, just turn ur wheels to lock, then lift up the left side first (not recommended to do both at same tims......) and spin the tire, you hear grinding poping there she blows, if not check the other side....even if you do hear somethin check the other side to check n see if you need 2

 

Okay.. I guess maybe I need to drop my T-bars back down.. Does a real leveling kit put less stress on them? Doesn't seem like it would matter the T-bar system is still being altered... But is there any other way to check them? like a quicker/easier way I'm usually not one to cut corners or take the quick way out but right now I can't get my truck in my garage and there is 6" of snow and falling... I think its my drivers side one but I may be incorrect..

 

uhhh you can get under there and shake it around...(shouldent be any movement...) and yes ur correct leveling kit will do the same thing.... i really dont understand leveling kits for torsion bar trucks....you get the same lift by cranken em...i dunno

 

Okay. I'll give that a go in the morning. Yeah the way I understood it any alteration of the T-bar system would cause increased wear/tear.. Any idea on the cost and what is involved in removing them shafts?

 

well, never dont it personally on a ram but ive done it a couple of dif times on diff vehicles, your going to need to have a good jack n jack stands, assortment of tools, (larger range like 15MM and above) and ur gonna have to take off wheel brake caliper pull the rotor off, then unbolt the end of the shaft from the spindle, and heres the difference part, if your shafts bolt to the front chunk you should be able to unbolt that and slide it out, if it slides out of the front chunk your going to need to pull one of your ball joints to get the room to slide your side out first then the chunk side...i just dunno, dont have ifs i gots me a 2500

 

Okay.. Well I got the jacks/jackstands... Got the tools.. Sounds like a not too bad job to do.. but oh wait.. Ball Joints??? Ughh I was hoping I wouldn't have to worry about them lol. And yeahh I found a 03 2500 just like mine for like the same price like a month after I bought this 1500

 

lmao figures and yeah balljoints suck, rent a tool if your going to reuse your old ones, if im replaceing them i just smack the threaded end with a hammer and out she goes if you wanna do this urself, go for it and if you have trouble's just post up with some pics er somethin im sure some 1 here if not me can help ya