eds1997dodge

Good morning guys. With these 3rd generation trucks , how has the front end been for reliability? Aside from doing a manual hub conversion (EXPENSIVE!!) how do they stand up? I have done all of the u-joints in the front driveshaft , as well as the front axles. I don't like the constant drivetrain movement , but that is the way all of them are. Just looking for some opinions, and experiences with the 3rd gens. IMO "preventative maintenance goes a long way" MY new to me truck has 190,000kms on it(118,750 miles) and counting.

pronstar

<--- Carli track bar & ball joints, 2008.5 Mopar steering upgrade, rest of front-end hardware is stock with 111K miles

I've also got a Redhead steering box & PSC brace

Never really had any issues with my front end, but I'll probably put a Thuren TRE on it soon.
I'm not sure if I'm subject to the new that recently came out, we'll have to wait and see...

SOhappy

No need for the manual hub conversion IMHO. Get's you 1.5mpg tops and really doesn't save any wear and tear on the driveline. Better to leave it turning all the time so it doesn't rust-up. People getting plenty of miles out of their front drivelines and diffs on here.

FMB

That is kinda like asking what fuel mileage someone gets. It depends on how and where it is driven, and maybe even what day of the week it was put together. I've read where some folks have almost rebuilt their whole front end a time or two before 75,000 miles on the clock.

With that said, with 272,000+ on mine, I just yesterday replaced a front hub. I haven't done anything else with the front end but U-Joints, shocks and brakes. Although most of these miles are freeway/highway miles, I do have plenty of miles on other-than-premium roadways. I hauled my Fox up to Coldfoot, AK in the early spring of '05 (pronounced 'frost heaves') and Inuvik, NWT in '10 (458 miles gravel highway, each way). My truck lived mostly in the CA Bay Area.

barttly

I'm curious how long the rubber stuff lasts. Not sure on this, but are the control arms and track bars made with replaceable rubber bushings? How long should they last with a mostly asphalt dd with weekends on some dirt roads? Still front end related, so hope you don't mind me asking on this thread.

FMB

I'm not sure, I'm still on the originals.

barttly

Nice.

railroaderone

My track bar made it till 95k on road off road mixed about 70/30. But most people say I am hard on stuff.

Grit Dog

115k on my 07. Mostly a pavement pounder. Lost a steering box at about 70k mi. Fluke deal though. Box was not wore out, rather the shuttle valve controlling the fluid flow got stuck and locked up steering in one direction. 45k on a Napa reman box so far so good. Added a steering box brace for the heck of it.
Ball jts have been out of spec according to the alignment shop for over 50k now but drives good tires wear good. No plans to replace in the near future.
Everything except the steering box and shocks are original and in good shape so far. Pretty pleased with that component life with a heavy Cummins hanging over the front end.

Snowdog

146K on original front end. Only replaced front brakes recently. Mech at dealership said ball joints and u-joints and everything else ok. I did order new Bilstein shocks all the way around,which I will put on when it warms up. I do soak the u-joints about every oil change with WD-40, cant hurt.