Buying a 2nd gen

[hotkarl]

My 3rd gen 02 1500 appears to have **** the bed.
A driveabiility issue came up that nobody can figure out, not even a certified official fancy schmancy award winning dealership.
I NEED a truck. So I'm throwing in the towel and looking to buy something else.

Problem is of course, budget. I live in a rural area so trucks run a premium price. 3rd gens are really up there and thats just for a running beater.
So I'm looking into possibly going back to a 2nd gen, which are a little more affordable. Slightly.

I had a 94 and it was a horror show. Nothing but problems so Im a little sketched about buying another one but Im willing to give it a shot under the circumstances.

In particular Im looking at a pretty clean 02 2500 and 99 1500. I'm really curious as to the reliability and inherent issues. I've heard that the later run of 2nd gens are more reliable because Dodge corrected some of the flaws and inherent issues.

Just looking for advice on anything to really look for or lookout for on the 2nd gens before I pull the trigger on another potential horror show.

 

[MERICA445]

I would just like to say that while yes the later trucks are more reliable, they have some certain parts which are only slightly more expensive than the earlier trucks. I've only owned my truck for about 4 months and I have had a radiator leak which i fixed with JB weld, faulty wiper motors, and a mysterious front end rattle but it has been pretty cheap to own and work on so far. I wouldn't advise getting a cummins of course unless you have a lot of diesel know how. If you really want dead reliability, get a 5.2. If you go for the 360 really check EVERYTHING, but if you maintain any vehicle it will be relatively reliable.

 

[hotkarl]

Definitely don't want diesel. I'm a gas V8 guy and I do prefer the 5.2 .

 

[Tray Burge]

Personally, I've always loved the 2nd gen body style. I'd get another mechanic though, if they can't figure out your problem, that's part of your problem in the first place. YOU'RE FIRED!

 

[hotkarl]

It's throwing a p1391 code. Was running fine until I changed the sensors. Now it runs like crap. I replaced the motor a few years back with a brand new one. Probably has 30k on it.
They think maybe jumped time or tone ring or fuel issue and a list of other things that they can't seem to figure out. It's not rocket science. It's a 4.7. Im getting estimates for thousands of bucks for different scenarios. I've already invested over 20k into it in less than 5 years.
In fact, 89% of that was spent within first 4 months of owning it.

Anyway, one of my concerns with the 2nd gens is the front suspension. The last one I owned had issues with alignment and tracking. Replaced the entire front end, every last part and the thing still drove sloppy and cockeyed. None of the shops could figure out why. And I know a few others with the same or similar problems but they just deal with it.

Also, both trucks I'm interested in have the 5.9.
What am I looking out for?

 

[RodeoRam]

I have a 5.9 in my '01, and it has been a very good motor. 330k miles and only had to replace the crank and camshaft sensors. The 46RE transmission wasn't too good. Of course, the first time it died was after the 100k warranty expired. I've replaced both sets of ball joints twice, one of those being a full front end rebuild. The front end is just too heavy for them. Sloppy steering was a nuisance. Tried tightening the gear a couple of times with no luck. Also replaced a front wheel hub bearing and rear diff. pinion gear. It also went through front brakes quickly. OEMs would last me about 18 months. I don't think there is enough bias for the back brakes. I could probably still be on the original shoes if I hadn't put new ones on. They just did not wear much even after constant adjustments. Bodywise, the bottoms of the doors and rocker panels rust out and the top dash pad falls apart. That was a joy to replace.

 

[hotkarl]

Is it just the 1500's with the suspension issues or are the 2500's just as bad? 4x4 of course..

 

[Joe w.]

My 99 is a 5.2 I have replaced the track bar on mine 2 times and both front axle joints. Has around 158000 miles on it.

 

[Okiespaniel]

I've had my 2000 Ram almost 18 years, lifted it, beat the snot out of it, rebuilt it and still drive it everyday. Right now I have about 158k on the entire truck. The biggest replacement cost was the transmission rebuild. It will soon be exceeded by a gear change and replacement of the worn out rear LSD with a Tru-trac

The biggest issue I've encountered is maintenance, or lack of it. You can't grease the factory front end so when the cheap grease the mfr puts in the components gets pounded out, stuff wears out, and fast. The heavier weight of a 2nd gen compared to earlier trucks exacerbates the issue. Because nothing is greaseable except the track bar ball joint and no one greases it, these components fail quickly.

The parts I've replaced now have grease zerks. I get under there and grease them with a quality moly grease because the moly particles stay put and take more of a pounding then standard lithium based greases.

The 2nd part is the steering box. It comes from the factory sloppy saginaw box that's standard on GM trucks as well. Replacing it with a parts store rebuilt box is an exercise in futility. I spent the money on a Redhead box and Borgenson shaft and now it steers like a race car...a big fat lifted racecar...

With regular maintenance the 5.9 gasser is bullet proof. I did the timing chain at 100k, and put 2 water pumps and two radiators in it. Oh and the heater core, which destroyed my cherry dash! I change the oil around 3k and use good oil and a quality filter. Last summer I had to put freon in the AC.

Brakes, usually adjust or check the adjustment every oil change. The self adjusters work like crap, but a couple extra turns on the adjuster screws make things stop quickly. Again, maintenance is the key.

 

[hotkarl]

Regular maintenance stuff doesn't concern me.
That stuff is a no brainer. I'm concerned more about big ticket items and gremlins.
Which I've heard gremlins love the 2nd gens.
Gremlins are one of the reasons I got rid of the 2nd gen I had.

 

[Okiespaniel]

You had a '94....first year build. Lots of Gremlins. By the time the 2000's rolled out at the end of the run, they'd done away with most of them.

I must've run all my Gremlins off, or they choked on the Arizona sand, got bashed on rocks, or got heatstroke. Any issues or big ticket items as you called them, were due to abuse, ignorance or lack of correct maintenance.

I briefly owned a '97 Ram. It was nice but started right off with recalls. Thankfully my ex demanded she keep it.


This one, it's a keeper!

 

[dapepper9]

Okie has put it well. Also as far as gremlins go, gotta remember the newest of these 1500s can vote and buy tobacco lol. Okie was spot on with the front end maintenance. I particularly like the part about moly grease vs lithium. I LOVE molybdenum lubricants vs the more modern stuff. Just works better. In fact, the airplanes I work on get the fan blades coated in the blade roots and tips because when they're not running they have more slop than the worst of our steering boxes but when running they expand out and are super tight. Causes a lot of rubbing and the moly holds up like nothing else I've seen.

The biggest thing is keeping up on maintenance which nobody ever does. I myself have been guilty of this. But that being said my truck still has 227,*** miles and runs great.

 

[Moparfanatic21]

Okie has put it well. Also as far as gremlins go, gotta remember the newest of these 1500s can vote and buy tobacco lol. Okie was spot on with the front end maintenance. I particularly like the part about moly grease vs lithium. I LOVE molybdenum lubricants vs the more modern stuff. Just works better. In fact, the airplanes I work on get the fan blades coated in the blade roots and tips because when they're not running they have more slop than the worst of our steering boxes but when running they expand out and are super tight. Causes a lot of rubbing and the moly holds up like nothing else I've seen.

The biggest thing is keeping up on maintenance which nobody ever does. I myself have been guilty of this. But that being said my truck still has 227,*** miles and runs great.

Where is everyone getting their moly grease? I haven't found any yet only Walmart brand

 

[dapepper9]

Where is everyone getting their moly grease? I haven't found any yet only Walmart brand

Schaeffers makes a pretty good moly line of greases and oils. LiquiMoly does as well. Would likely have to order those through amazon or something though

 

[Moparfanatic21]

Schaeffers makes a pretty good moly line of greases and oils. LiquiMoly does as well. Would likely have to order those through amazon or something though

Which would you prefer for suspension parts (control arm bushing, ball joints, u joints, etc)

 

[hotkarl]

So is the 2500 suspension more reliable than the 1500? Or pretty much the same?
I replaced every last component with quality name brand parts, including oem, and that truck was never right.

 

[Okiespaniel]

If someone offered me a 2002 2500 Ram with a gas engine (although I might consider a diesel) I'd take it! Heck I'd take a parts truck for the differentials alone!

No Cad assembly on the front axle, plus larger splined front axles and bigger U joints for starters. Rear disc brake option. HD 241(?) T case and better stereo.

Look sir, if you're on the fence, don't do it. 2nd gens are sensitive that way. Thoughts are things and all that zen voodoo stuff. You had a bad truck and if you expect to have another one, you probably will.

Some consider my parts replacement excessive. Spread out over almost 18 years, it's pretty minimal, far cheaper that a new truck payment, insurance, and license.
Lastly, I expect issues from a truck that weighs several hundred pounds more than the previous generation, yet uses the same technology and similar parts. The 2nd gen is the link between the 1st gen mechanical/analog trucks and today's digital hi tech driven Rams.

If I had to complain about anything it would be the plenum gasket. And the "Y" type steering coupled with the Saginaw box. Ok, the transmission check valve and tiny aux transmission cooler lines. But that'd be it.

 

[Okiespaniel]

Moly grease...I usually buy from NAPA. Sta Lube, I don't remember what brand. It works.

 

[hotkarl]

In all honesty, my dream truck is a 1st gen 4x4 extended cab. Hell even a regular cab 4x4.
But by me, they go for telephone numbers.
And I don't care much how they look as long as they are mechanically solid. But they are rare and very high priced when they do come along.

 

[hotkarl]

Weighing options.
Checked out 19's today.
****** they are expensive.
I'm gonna need therapy.

Pay through ass and fix old truck?
Take a gamble on a new-to-me used truck?
Take it up the ass and buy new?
Ugh.