I'm new to the forum. 04 Ram frontend rebuild.
I'm new to the forum. 04 Ram frontend rebuild.
My name is Tommy,
I own a 04.5 Ram 2500 4x4 5.9 Cummins diesel. Bought it with 10k on it in Feb 05. As of today it has 442,200 miles and going strong.
Even though I rebuilt the engine last year at 423k ( only because it had a broke ring) Still has the original starter on it! Origin injectors!!! Always maintained by Me! No one has ever changed the oil in my truck but me. Love my truck!
But..... now its time to rebuild the frontend. I don't want to go cheap, but I can't afford the best. What I need advice on is how much should I replace? Ball joints are a must! I replaced wheel hub/bearings about 2 years ago. Should have done ball joints then but didn't. Do I go ahead and replace bearings again? Original shock absorbers. Do I replace them? I don't plan on ever replacing my truck with a newer one. But I need to do this as cheap as possible, but not so cheap that I have to do it again in 3 years. I'm 57 years old and not getting any younger. Don't know how much longer I can do this kind of work myself. Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks, Tommy
I own a 04.5 Ram 2500 4x4 5.9 Cummins diesel. Bought it with 10k on it in Feb 05. As of today it has 442,200 miles and going strong.
Even though I rebuilt the engine last year at 423k ( only because it had a broke ring) Still has the original starter on it! Origin injectors!!! Always maintained by Me! No one has ever changed the oil in my truck but me. Love my truck!
But..... now its time to rebuild the frontend. I don't want to go cheap, but I can't afford the best. What I need advice on is how much should I replace? Ball joints are a must! I replaced wheel hub/bearings about 2 years ago. Should have done ball joints then but didn't. Do I go ahead and replace bearings again? Original shock absorbers. Do I replace them? I don't plan on ever replacing my truck with a newer one. But I need to do this as cheap as possible, but not so cheap that I have to do it again in 3 years. I'm 57 years old and not getting any younger. Don't know how much longer I can do this kind of work myself. Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks, Tommy
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,482
Likes: 4,223
From: Clayton MI
Spend the money on better quality parts. Do it once, do it right, and then don't worry about it again for quite a while.
If the shocks are original, likely time for new ones.
If the hub/bearings are still good, put 'em back in. Check your brakes while you have everything apart.
Welcome to DF! Gonna move this to Third Gen Ram section for ya.
If the shocks are original, likely time for new ones.
If the hub/bearings are still good, put 'em back in. Check your brakes while you have everything apart.
Welcome to DF! Gonna move this to Third Gen Ram section for ya.
Champion
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 449
From: Atlanta
As of today it has 442,200 miles and going strong.
Even though I rebuilt the engine last year at 423k ( only because it had a broke ring) Still has the original starter on it! Origin injectors!!! Always maintained by Me! No one has ever changed the oil in my truck but me. Love my truck!
Even though I rebuilt the engine last year at 423k ( only because it had a broke ring) Still has the original starter on it! Origin injectors!!! Always maintained by Me! No one has ever changed the oil in my truck but me. Love my truck!
I've got original everything too, nothing rebuilt. Deepest I've dug into the engine was to remove the valve covers to replace lifters and valve stem seals. About the only large components I've replaced under the hood are alternator, radiator and water pump. Everything else is original, minus sensors here and there.
Timken wheel bearings are good. I replaced with those some years back. I've also replaced sway bar end link + upper and lower ball joints. The uppers were a junkyard set and the lowers were some cheap greasable Napa house brand, made in Taiwan. They're still holding up, but the rubber cracked real bad to the point of leaking out grease, so I coated the rubber with permatex rtv and fixed that problem. The upper ball joints go first, at least on my Dak. Different truck, I know but similar experiences.
Last edited by Dodgevity; Feb 19, 2021 at 08:26 PM.
All Star
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 833
Likes: 68
From: Chesapeake, VA
Are you getting symptoms telling you there is play in the front end?
Just so we are all talking same thing, check ball joint play with wheel off the ground and hands on the 12 and 6 o'clock position of the tire. If you are getting play with this check, also look at the control arm and see if there is play in the bushings. Sometimes it is easier, and better to replace the control arm. The ball joint can be a bear to remove and you may need new bushings anyway.
Just so we are all talking same thing, check ball joint play with wheel off the ground and hands on the 12 and 6 o'clock position of the tire. If you are getting play with this check, also look at the control arm and see if there is play in the bushings. Sometimes it is easier, and better to replace the control arm. The ball joint can be a bear to remove and you may need new bushings anyway.
