What did you do to your Ram today???

[BowDown]

Great find, thanks. There's several to choose from on Amazon and Walmart.com. Just read reviews and check the sizing.
For me, needing one for maybe 2 weeks worth of nights in the winter, Cardboard will do.

A large 33 gallon trash bag split down the sides will work also, that's what I used prior

 

[HSKR R/T]

Finally Tackled the Trakmotive CV axle swap today, and also replaced ball joints in my Zone off-road UCAs because the boots were torn. I've only had the axles in My garage for 6 months Axle swap was pretty easy. I hate pressed in ball joints. Took twice as long to do just the ball joints on each side as it would have taken start to finish to do CV axles.

The Trakmotive axles are beefy. And supposed to be for extended travel with lifts/levels. I had the passenger side CV axle replaced under warranty a few months ago because it was throwing grease. The drivers side one was as well but I guess the dealer techs didn't notice that. I chose to have the passenger side replaced by dealer under warranty because of all the horror stories you hear about passenger side not coming out easy. The axle with orange tag is the reman axle the dealer installed on passenger side

 

[Rock Crawler]

I got one of these from walmart a few years ago, best $15 I ever spent

Frost Guard Plus Winter Windshield Cover, XL for SUVs and Trucks, Black, Model 53099​

Amazon.com

I have one of those as well. Got the mirror covers too. They work great.

 

[Montana_]

Trucks having shifting issues in 2nd, mostly from 3-2. Slipping. Very rough.

Dealer did an update they said reset the shift parameters, probably the one from the TSB, but it didn't help.

And it's had issues engaging/disengaging 4wd. I've only used 4wd auto, but tested them all. They all worked fine but something is causing it to hang up and the only way I've figured out to reset it is to shut the truck off and walk away letting it totally shut itself down. Very annoying and it's happened multiple times so far. However, this issue I've only ran into when it's cold and I haven't needed 4wd anything in weeks. I'll try it tomorrow before I take it back in.

So, not looking good. Baby steps as the dealership can't recreate the issues (I'm 99% certain they didn't try and just defaulted to the update) and now I'm going to go back in and get them to ride with me.

My projection on their assessment is they'll try to do fluid next (because I'll ask them about it), then service the valve body, then if that doesn't do it hopefully a replacement. As for the 4wd issues, no idea what's causing it other than the cold at the moment. But I suspect the slippage isnt an easy fix. I'm not that lucky.

Just kinda tired of spinning tires just from a 3-2 downshift... Never, in any other vehicle has this ever happened before and I get impatient with dealership troubleshooting, especially due to the inconvenience(s) it causes me.

So, hopefully someone here has some thoughts because another couple months driving like this and I can't say I'll be too keen on continuing driving like this. I already know I'd never buy a 25+ RAM (the ones without oil dipsticks on a turbo v6 for customers safety... Yea...), so I got nothing right now... No plans. Just unhappy driving. Maybe a Camry lol. So tired of it all.

Maybe not entirely a what I did today but I've been troubleshooting it for a while now. It's going to be the only thing I do with the truck until it's solved... Or it's not. If I can't trust the transmission or 4wd, this truck is useless.

 

[SkittleRam]

Finally had some time to clean up the Ram after 5 years of family duty, she is looking pretty good. I could have done a lot more in terms of paint correction, but I used this as a truck and it spends all of its days outside. So I just accept that it will not be a garage queen.

So per the suggestion of another member here, I bought some of the Jescar Power Lock Amazon Link and I am pretty pleased with the results.

 

[Montana_]

Took it in again today and got lucky because they can squeeze me in tomorrow in the AM and I'll ride with the tech.

Trying to stay positive here. My last post was a bit of a downer. One day at a time

 

[1BADRAMLIMITED]

Hand-Washed the salt and snow slush off. Had a blast in the snow though wish we got more here in OK!

 

[MeTheGuy]

Added running boards!

 

[Morenar]

The bolts on both sides are pretty tight. I even bang on the sway bar with a rubber mallet to see if I heard if anything was loose.
Last time the sway bar links were loose.
We could hear them while hitting with a
Rubber mallet. The driver side links themselves seem to twist easier by hand than the passenger side. Not sure if that means they are going bad.

Ended up replacing the end links this weekend as well and the clunk was still there. Ended up mounting a GoPro cam and looks as if the clunk and squeak I was hearing was from the BDS UCA bushings. There is also some movement forward and back on them as I drive. Happening on both sides.

They are torqued down to spec but wondering now if the bushings are shot after 1 year. Have a call placed into BDS and waiting for a callback.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Ended up replacing the end links this weekend as well and the clunk was still there. Ended up mounting a GoPro cam and looks as if the clunk and squeak I was hearing was from the BDS UCA bushings. There is also some movement forward and back on them as I drive. Happening on both sides.

They are torqued down to spec but wondering now if the bushings are shot after 1 year. Have a call placed into BDS and waiting for a callback.

When the UCA’s were installed, were the bolts left loose until the suspension was fully loaded with the weight of the truck, then torqued down? Or were they torqued down with the suspension hanging?

 

[Morenar]

When the UCA’s were installed, were the bolts left loose until the suspension was fully loaded with the weight of the truck, then torqued down? Or were they torqued down with the suspension hanging?

The shop that did the install said they torqued them down after the truck was on the ground.

 

[boogielander]

Took it in again today and got lucky because they can squeeze me in tomorrow in the AM and I'll ride with the tech.

Trying to stay positive here. My last post was a bit of a downer. One day at a time

if you're out of warranty then it'd be a good idea to bring to some offroad shop and have them take a look.
we've found some easy to fix stuff that dealers couldn't fix in the past at our shop before.

 

[Rock Crawler]

The shop that did the install said they torqued them down after the truck was on the ground.

That’s good. That’s the right way to do it. It might be that one of the bolts were not tightened properly and over time the bolt hole on the flange is ovaled out. I don’t see the bolt head moving though. Just a thought.

 

[Rock Crawler]

if you're out of warranty then it'd be a good idea to bring to some offroad shop and have them take a look.
we've found some easy to fix stuff that dealers couldn't fix in the past at our shop before.

x2 on a reputable off-road shop. These are the things they deal with every day. It’s their specialty.

 

[OffcamberTrail]

Finally had some time to clean up the Ram after 5 years of family duty, she is looking pretty good. I could have done a lot more in terms of paint correction, but I used this as a truck and it spends all of its days outside. So I just accept that it will not be a garage queen.

So per the suggestion of another member here, I bought some of the Jescar Power Lock Amazon Link and I am pretty pleased with the results.

Nicely done! You definitely got good results. I also bought it based on the recommendation here. I applied it in December before a road trip. I'll be curious to see how well it holds up.

 

[Morenar]

That’s good. That’s the right way to do it. It might be that one of the bolts were not tightened properly and over time the bolt hole on the flange is ovaled out. I don’t see the bolt head moving though. Just a thought.

Spoke with BDS today. They are sending me 4 UCA bushings.

 

[Montana_]

if you're out of warranty then it'd be a good idea to bring to some offroad shop and have them take a look.
we've found some easy to fix stuff that dealers couldn't fix in the past at our shop before.

Well, they can't recreate the problem with the shifting, but it's only because they don't drive it enough. If you drive grandma-ish when it's warm, you'll never notice it. If you give it any throttle when it's trying to figure out what gear it needs to be in from 2-3 or 3-2 then it slips. Best scenario to recreate it would up a slippery hill applying the same amount of throttle the whole time. And that's what I did for them today. Instead I was told that's just normal from the transfer case and being on a slick road.

It's not. No other vehicle has ever done this. If it's not getting traction it's going to slip regardless of what gear it's in and I've never had any issues like this before. When it's cold, leaving the driveway I have to baby it to not go into 2nd and the same goes for the stop sign up the hill out to the highway. It builds up the RPM and then slams into gear and it looks like I am flooring it and trying to spin my tires but forgot to turn TC off. That's what it feels like and I showed the tech all this.

And judging by the comments I heard on my dashcam after checking from their previous test drive, they aren't interested in finding the problem. This dealership has TONS of attitude. I've never enjoyed going there and I had to restrain myself from physically kicking the tech out of my truck with his smart *** comments and making him walk back. Like, dude, you you knew I had a dashcam and you said those things knowing I would watch it, so I'm supposed to be tactful and nice to you now? Screw you. I won't go into details but something about "probably from California and not used to driving up here" and "If this was my truck I'd be grateful for how it shifts". Seriously... screw this dealership.

Since it's under warranty, I'm not even going to bother trying to hunt down specialty shops especially since I'm rural and options are very limited. So if they can't find a solution for the slipping, I'll just get rid of it. Why waste my time. It's probably the same reason the previous owner got rid of it and will likely be the reason the 3rd one etc etc.

Kinda sad. Because I'd really rather just get it taken care of. But if the dealership is just going to look at me like I'm crazy and waste 7 months of my time, then eff it, especially with their attitude. You know, the type that "nobody wants to work anymore" but they still try paying people less than a liveable wage while making record profits... Yea... it's never their problem or fault. They have signs like that hanging up around the service center too. It's so cringe every time I walk up to the service counter it's some new attitude from someone there. Sorry for being an inconvenience and making them do their jobs.

So the only other option for the tranny is over 100 miles away and I just don't think it's worth it anymore.

*edit
I caved. Taking it to the damn dealer 120 damn miles away. dammit.

 

[shann1024]

These Threads always seem to be fun and keep us all spending money so chime in and lets get the ball rolling....

Not today necessarily but over the past month she got a light bar, blacked out skid plate, red tow hooks, grill marker lights, 2.5" lift up front with ready lift ucas and 1" rear. 2" wheel spacers all around and some long john mud flaps. Waiting out the winter and then some rims and 35s. 33" just look silly now

 

[boogielander]

Well, they can't recreate the problem with the shifting, but it's only because they don't drive it enough. If you drive grandma-ish when it's warm, you'll never notice it. If you give it any throttle when it's trying to figure out what gear it needs to be in from 2-3 or 3-2 then it slips. Best scenario to recreate it would up a slippery hill applying the same amount of throttle the whole time. And that's what I did for them today. Instead I was told that's just normal from the transfer case and being on a slick road.

It's not. No other vehicle has ever done this. If it's not getting traction it's going to slip regardless of what gear it's in and I've never had any issues like this before. When it's cold, leaving the driveway I have to baby it to not go into 2nd and the same goes for the stop sign up the hill out to the highway. It builds up the RPM and then slams into gear and it looks like I am flooring it and trying to spin my tires but forgot to turn TC off. That's what it feels like and I showed the tech all this.

And judging by the comments I heard on my dashcam after checking from their previous test drive, they aren't interested in finding the problem. This dealership has TONS of attitude. I've never enjoyed going there and I had to restrain myself from physically kicking the tech out of my truck with his smart *** comments and making him walk back. Like, dude, you you knew I had a dashcam and you said those things knowing I would watch it, so I'm supposed to be tactful and nice to you now? Screw you. I won't go into details but something about "probably from California and not used to driving up here" and "If this was my truck I'd be grateful for how it shifts". Seriously... screw this dealership.

Since it's under warranty, I'm not even going to bother trying to hunt down specialty shops especially since I'm rural and options are very limited. So if they can't find a solution for the slipping, I'll just get rid of it. Why waste my time. It's probably the same reason the previous owner got rid of it and will likely be the reason the 3rd one etc etc.

Kinda sad. Because I'd really rather just get it taken care of. But if the dealership is just going to look at me like I'm crazy and waste 7 months of my time, then eff it, especially with their attitude. You know, the type that "nobody wants to work anymore" but they still try paying people less than a liveable wage while making record profits... Yea... it's never their problem or fault. They have signs like that hanging up around the service center too. It's so cringe every time I walk up to the service counter it's some new attitude from someone there. Sorry for being an inconvenience and making them do their jobs.

So the only other option for the tranny is over 100 miles away and I just don't think it's worth it anymore. Screw it. I'm out.

man sorry to hear that.
reason why i never buy used if new one is available... there's always a reason why the previous guy got rid of it.

 

[Gren71]

Installed the core 4x4 rear sway bar end links. They put my sway bar back in the proper alignment, which should help make the hellwig evident again after i added the 5100s. These are for 1in of lift, which i got in the rear after i added the cargomax springs

Its a bit of a COLD day..26 while i was working. The space heater is wonderful