2005 2500 wandering all over the road, starting with ball joints
Thread Starter
|
New Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Jacksonville FL
2005 2500 wandering all over the road, starting with ball joints
I have 115,000 on my dodge 2500 5.9. I have been fighting to keep it on the road for the last 30k or so. I have decided to spend some money on getting the front end back under control and i am starting with ball joints. I have to spend a little at the time since i still have a big payment on this truck. The truck has a 3 inch lift and 35 inch tires.
I do not have the budget for the carli's and i will have to pay to have the work done. My question is in regards to the XRF ball joints. Does anyone have any miles on these? How are they holding up? I dont offroad unless i have to.
Secondly, i know i have a loose tie rod end or two which i plan to replace. What else should i look for to shore up the front end. I do not have any type of wobble , just a truck that wanders. Would a steering box stabilizer do much for the wandering? enough to justify the expense of it? Any thoughts on these matters would be appreciated. I am getting a new rancho steering damper soon also, I found mine has been leaking fluid so i am sure it is shot, i really do not think this will help with the wandering though. You should not have to concetrate so hard trying to keep your truck on the road.
I do not have the budget for the carli's and i will have to pay to have the work done. My question is in regards to the XRF ball joints. Does anyone have any miles on these? How are they holding up? I dont offroad unless i have to.
Secondly, i know i have a loose tie rod end or two which i plan to replace. What else should i look for to shore up the front end. I do not have any type of wobble , just a truck that wanders. Would a steering box stabilizer do much for the wandering? enough to justify the expense of it? Any thoughts on these matters would be appreciated. I am getting a new rancho steering damper soon also, I found mine has been leaking fluid so i am sure it is shot, i really do not think this will help with the wandering though. You should not have to concetrate so hard trying to keep your truck on the road.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
you just wonder how much more it would have cost dodge to have installed grease zerks on each steering system moving part.
my last old 3/4 ton truck (not a dodge) had a grease zerk at all steering system joints
not the best truck ever, but at 100k it still drove just as good as when new. I was able to keep it greased every 10K miles.
but that ship has sailed, my mech told me to just bring the truck in at 100K plus and he would replace the worn parts as necessary.
not what i wanted to hear,
my last old 3/4 ton truck (not a dodge) had a grease zerk at all steering system joints
not the best truck ever, but at 100k it still drove just as good as when new. I was able to keep it greased every 10K miles.
but that ship has sailed, my mech told me to just bring the truck in at 100K plus and he would replace the worn parts as necessary.
not what i wanted to hear,
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
I've done everything possible
I feel your pain, my 2009 had 60,000 miles on it when I started replacing steering components. It was starting to feel like a workout keeping it on the road, haha.
I did all the work myself with my friend, who has access to a shop/lift/goodies.
When we pulled the stock ball joints they were completely shot. I have a KORE leveling kit, on mine truck, so some "experts" said this was why they went so fast.
We put Moogs in, which have held up. I also replaced the stock trac bar, with BD's adjustable one, as well as a stablizer box from BD, which prevents frame bending.
Finally, we also put in a dropped pitman arm, which is necessary for a lifted vehicle, if you've got one.
After all this, I went and got the truck aligned at our tire place. She finally drives straight and true!
Also, the trac bar and the moog ball joints are zerk serviceable which is nice!
However, I did have someone tell me to put some type of variable ball joint in, I don't know, I guess it depends on your spending preference, the makers of the special bal joints are proud of their product though, haha!
I did all the work myself with my friend, who has access to a shop/lift/goodies.
When we pulled the stock ball joints they were completely shot. I have a KORE leveling kit, on mine truck, so some "experts" said this was why they went so fast.
We put Moogs in, which have held up. I also replaced the stock trac bar, with BD's adjustable one, as well as a stablizer box from BD, which prevents frame bending.
Finally, we also put in a dropped pitman arm, which is necessary for a lifted vehicle, if you've got one.
After all this, I went and got the truck aligned at our tire place. She finally drives straight and true!
Also, the trac bar and the moog ball joints are zerk serviceable which is nice!
However, I did have someone tell me to put some type of variable ball joint in, I don't know, I guess it depends on your spending preference, the makers of the special bal joints are proud of their product though, haha!