Borrowed a Dodge

[Nitro375]

So for the past month or so I had a clunk in my GMC that would come and go while making a left turn. After a recent trip to Spokane from the Seattle area it had gotten worse and would even do it periodically while making a right turn. I had been under the truck several times, grabbing and banging on things trying to find it. Even had my cousin get behind the wheel, fire it up and turn the wheels back and forth with me under the front end, nothing I could see or feel was loose or out of wack. When I returned to the westside of the state I decided it was time to lube the front end components. While greasing the RH inner tie rod socket I noticed the boot was split on top. Hmmmm, so I cranked the wheel over in a hard left turn and took a look at it. And that is when I saw pretty minimal clearance between the tie rod and the sway bar and evidence of contact on the sway bar. I can see where if you were off road or hit a large bump or hole while turning how they would come into contact and damage the boot. The previous owner had put a Cognito Leveling kit on the truck with upper A Arms, Fox shocks etc. They had also upgraded the steering with HD components and a HD idler assembly, blue in color, I can not remember the name of. Anyhow after looking into all of this I found that when leveling or lifting the truck and or putting in the beefier steering components it is recommended to also install longer sway bar end links. I thought it rather funny that the P.O. had gone too all of this trouble and left out this one small detail. Upon inspection of the left tie rod its inner boot was split as well and had left grease on the sway bar. At the same time I found the somewhat hidden grease fittings on the lower ball joints and felt pretty dumb for missing them before.

 

 

So where is all of this going? Well having found all of this I jacked up the front of the truck and got the wheels off of the ground. I grabbed the right front wheel front to back and could move it almost three inches! And ther it was....clunk/.......clunk. Bingo! Inner tie rod socket is toast! So now having ordered replacement I.E. updated HD tie rod assemblies and the aformented and recommended sway bar end links I parked my truck untill they arrive. In the meantime my father in law who is an awesome guy and whom I get along with very well was kind enough to loan me his 2007 Dodge 2500HD Cummins truck, crew cab, 4x4 etc.

 

It is a beautiful truck, goes like a locomotive, looks nice, rides pretty good, gorgeous machine. However I have to say after driving it the past few days I really miss my truck. Family members have teasingly asked me if I am going to buy a Dodge now. Honestly, they are nice trucks but I really prefer and like my GM truck better. It rides better, shifts better, steers better and the seats are much more comfortable in my opinion. Nice truck yes, but its not for me.