I upgraded to a Ram from my 01 Dakota Quad Cab 4x4. I needed a bigger truck to haul wood...and I wanted a bigger truck to lift. I just got it last week, but it has a leveling kit upfront, Rancho shocks, I got a truck tool box and covered it in bedliner along with the bed and bottom of the truck, and painted the grille inserts black (MUCH better looking). It had chrome Westin nerf bars on it when I bought it. I'm getting 33" BFG ATs tomorrow to ditch the Cooper Discoverer AT3s, add a leafs later this week, and putting duals on it next week hopefully. I also bought a set of used tow mirrors, but need new mirror glass, so they won't be going on just yet. So far, it's a big change from my Dakota. Solid front axle took a little getting used to and I HAVE to take care of the sloppy steering that these trucks have.

Plans down the road this winter are 2500 or 3500 front coils (keep leveling kit too), Skyjacker control arms, sway bar extensions, 2" lift blocks, install my 10" Kicker sub under the rear seat... Feel free to comment on or suggest other lift ideas.

Let me know what you think.

 

Hey PAPam5.9! I just joined this forum. Rams don't have sloppy steering when new. I have a '98 that was in good shape like yours until I used it. You probably need a new track bar in front. That cured my steering. ($1,000.) I would like to know how your rear sway bar is attached to the axle housing. Mine has shock tabs that extend opposite fr. and bk. How does the bar center? Is the correct bar off centered? Help if you can-maybe post a pic. here? I'm trying to install a bar and ran into this dilemma. Must have the wrong bar! Any help greatly appreciated. P.S. I pass people on twisty mpontain roads now with the new track-bar. TKO.

 

The truck has a lot of parts replaced up front before I bought it (track bar, tie rod ends, steering stabilizer, sway bar end links....). I'm pretty sure I know the fix for the steering. I wasn't bashing the trucks stock. Just saying that it's a common problem. I love my Ram.

I'll get you some pictures of the rear sway bar.

 

looks like it was well taken care of!

 

Clean truck. I have a 2000 with the 5.9 I had to redo the front end since it had a lil sloppy steering but a few new parts n shes good as new. You'll be fine.

 

The truck is in very nice condition. It needs a couple little things, but definitely a nice clean truck to start with. I've been picking up a lot of parts for it lately. I got the 285/75/16 BFGs on and I'm ready to put the Add a leafs on hopefully this weekend. I'll get some new pics after I get them on.

 

beautifull Ram. Same color as my '99. That's just about what I'm trying to get Ram to like. Would really like to see that rear sway bar you mentioned

Like has been said, some new parts will go a long way to fixing any steering slop. The first thing the wife and I did to ours was new tie rods and now the steering feels better than my father in laws Tacoma with half the miles we have.