NHTSA Complaint #10102614 — 2004 DODGE RAM 3500

LOAD CLUNKING NOISE FROM FRONT AXLE, AND NOTICABLE INSTABILLITY IN STEERING ON BUMPY ROADS THAT ONLY STARTED WHEN THE FRONT BALL JOINTS DEVELOPED WHAT I BELEIVE TO BE EXCESSIVE WEAR. I MEASURED .033 VERTICLE FREE PLAY OF THE STEERING KNUCKLE, BUT MINIMAL LATERAL PLAY. ACCORDING TO DAIMLERCHRYSLER, THE -QUOTE- "NEW WAY OF CHECKING PLAY" ONLY REGISTERS .010 FREEPLAY, AND THE BALL JOINT HAS TO HAVE .060 TO BE DECLARE DEFECTIVE. AS SUCH DAIMLERCHRYSLER DENIED MY REPAIR. IN MY OPINION BY THE TIME THE LATERAL PLAY MEASURES .060, THE VERTICLE PLAY WILL DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE BALL JOINTS ON 2003 AND LATER "3RD GENERATION" 2500/3500 4 WHEEL DRIVE DODGE RAM HD PICKUPS ON THE VARIOUS INTERNET NEWS GROUPS, SUCH AS TURBO DIESEL REGISTER.COM.*AK