98whitelightnin

I'll get some ordered this week and hopefully have a great driving truck in another couple weeks.

Track bar seems really tight. The whole front end feels tight, no rattles or looseness while driving and hitting bumps or anything. I know the box is shot and im sure a frame brace wouldnt hurt either. I put one on the last 98 and it tightened it up nicely.

That's good to know. Blue Top is out of the quick ratio boxes anyway. I think I need to re-seal the vacuum pump so I'll do both when the time comes. Thank's for your help throughout the years Mike.

I know, im gonna get a steering box next. I figured that the quicker ratio would make these trucks dart all over the road since im so used to sawing at the wheel but maybe the 3 1/4 turn ratio box might be better than the 4 turn. Which Blue Top did you go with Mike?

So this 4wd 98 I just picked up is all over the road. Ive replaced all tie rods, both wheel hub assemblies and shocks and springs, it was all shot, except for the R hub assembly. Springs both had rubber spacers between the coils and shocks had no rebound. I had an alignment set at 0.07 total toe. R side cam bolt has a bent washer so i set those straight up and down. Truck pulls left driving down the road and pulls left when braking. Had small travel trailer in tow yesterday and had to hit the brakes hard in traffic and the truck darted over in the left lane. Track bar is tight but the steering box needs replaced. I did tighten the adjustment on top of the box and it took a lot of slop out but still not all. Ball joints are greaseable and in great shape with no binding. I also put in new sway bar bushings since the old ones were shot. Truck rides so much smoother now with new shocks and springs but just doesn't handle like it should. I cant keep replacing parts if they don't need replacing but I know these trucks can drive great. What do we think? Steering box, control arm bushings, steering shaft? Tires are 285/75R16 toyo open country a/t in great shape but i'm gonna rotate just'' to make sure nothing is going on with that front left tire.

Ive put Thuren coils on several different dodges over the years and when i came across a good deal on a used set the other day, i snagged them up. I had a set of his white body shocks and coils on my last 98 and they were better than the worn out monroe's that i pulled off. I got a set of fox 2.0 piggy back shocks from John Fack and sent those back to fox for a rebuild, then they went on the 2012 with Thuren coils. Again, they were better than the stock shocks they replaced butI should have sent them to Thuren but didnt know he would rebuild them at the time. This time I went with Carli's signature series and these things are the best yet! My stock springs had rubber boosters between the coils and worn out kyb shocks so it road like a wagon. Between the 2" Thuren coils and the Carli shocks, this thing rides like a dream!

I put a red head on my 2005 dually and boy was that box tight! I was used to sawing it back and forth but it handled like a go-cart after the Red Head. That said, i think i will try a Blue Top next time, its $86 cheaper and probably just as good. Buddy of mine put a Blue Top on his 2000 and said it was great but I never drove it.

So its supposed to be loose? If thats the case, ill figure out how to make it stay in the 12 position. im pulling a camper this weekend and would like better brakes.

I don’t know how this is one of the only pics I have of this old truck? This was my favorite and such a good truck. Miss is everyday. Going camping this weekend and will get some pics of the new 98.

The height sensing brake ( bar with ball end ) just dangles on mine, no way to position it anyway.

The rod is actually missing and my rear brakes are lacking but in great shape. I’ll mess with lever position and see if I can get any more braking power out back.

Welcome from Texas as well, actually just right up the road from you in Euless.

Yes! its #7 in that diagram. I knew it had something to do with load. Seems i would work with towing as it would with a load in the bed , since the trailer will make the rear ride lower.

This 98 I just picked up is missing the piece that I believe tightens the rear brakes when there is a trailer in tow. I think it’s a rod but I’m not sure. It will have a ball end on either end of it. Anybody know what its called?

I mounted one in my 95 after the compounds. The spare tire mount had rusted off so it went in place of it. That thing did some crazy good cooling!

I’ve never been around a p-pumped truck with manual trans that didn’t need a touch of throttle to pop off. My 95 auto never needed extra fuel to start.

I’m not sure but I remember seeing this pan years ago and thinking it would be a cheap upgrade with a drain. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/spe-5465

Last time I refilled an nv4500, I used Blumenthal’s house brand fluid. When the time comes, I’ll most likely use it again

I needed up with the truck! I will update my sig and get a pic or two up when I get a min.

Yes! 98whitelightnin will hopefully be back! Mike, I will change it if the deal goes through, hate to count chickens before they hatch

I sold my 2012 Ram back in February and have regretted it since. As much as I liked the newer truck with all the luxuries and power, I really missed my old second gens more than anything. Hopefully I will be bringing home a new to me 98 12v tomorrow. It’s a longbed 4wd 5 speed. Thanks to Mike for keeping this great site up and running for all of us all these years!

Yes, truck will either stall or push through the brakes, ask me how i know. I had mine just at the end of my console, were my fingers would lay anyway.

My 12 was having a shutter on a turning takeoff and while backing up my loaded enclosed trailer after a 1100 mile trip. I changed the rear end oil out with some valvoline 75w90 and a bottle of mopar limited slip and the shutter is completely gone.

I sent the pic to Me78569 Hey it works from my iPad!! Mike, show it to Moparmom, this is the latest pic of Maddox. He just turned 8