1997 Dodge RAM 1500

NOTICED A HIGH PITCHED WHINE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS BEFORE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP. TRAVELING ON A SECONDARY TO A CITY STREET SLOWING TO 30 MPH. AXLE ASSEMBLY LOCKED UP AT 45 MPH CAUSING A SKID THAT WAS CONTROLLED. AXLE HOUSING SPLIT, DRIVE SHAFT DETACHED, GEAR LUBE DRAINED OUT AND TIRES ARE SEVERELY FLAT SPOTTED. SKID LENGTH WAS 115 FT.

THE HUB WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE AND WAS REPLACED IMMEDIATELY WITH A NEW ONE. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES AND THE BRAND NEW HUB DID THE SAME EXACT THING. I CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT KEEPS CAUSING THE ISSUE NOR CAN I AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING THEM. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL DODGE RAMS OVER THE YEARS AND WHILE THE HUB DOES GO OUT ON THEM I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE GO OUT RIGHT AFTER PUTTING IT ON. I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH AND NOTICED THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS YEAR MODEL TRUCK. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SHAFT AND GEAR INADVERTENTLY DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 DODGE RAM 1500 4X4. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BUT COULD FIND NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE HE WAS ADVISED TO LUBRICATE THE STABILIZER BAR, DRAG LINK, TRACK BARS AND ANY COMPONENT THAT COULD BE LUBRICATED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHEN DRIVING 50-70 MPH OVER ANY UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK FROM A USED DEALER IN TUPELO, MS ON JULY 5, 2004. ON AUGUST 27, 2004, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE DRIVING AROUND 65-70 MPH DOWN A 4-LANE HWY IN MS WHEN I HEARD A WEIRD NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND AS HE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN TO GET OFF ON THE SHOULDER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARING SHEARED THE STUDS OFF AND MY TIRE WENT SAILING OFF THE TRUCK, SLAMMING THE FRONT END DOWN ONTO THE GROUND. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT DENTED THE FENDER AND SHOVED THE FENDER INTO THE PASSENGER DOOR PREVENTING IT FROM BEING ABLE TO BE OPENED. TRUCK WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT ON A TRAILER AND A NEW WHEEL BEARING WAS PUT IN. THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE DUE TO THE STUDS BEING SHEARED OFF ON A 4-LANE HWY. WHEN PART WAS REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING WAS CHECKED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, SHOWING NO REASON FOR REPLACEMENT. 2 WEEKS LATER ON MY WAY TO WORK, I FELT A SUDDEN VIBRATION IN THE TRUCK. I PULLED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CHECKED THE TRUCK, JUST BY A SUDDEN CHANCE OF LUCK I CHECK THE TIRE AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE HAD ALREADY SHEARED 3 OF 5 LUG NUTS OFF. ONCE AGAIN THE TRUCK WAS TOWED IN FOR REPAIR AND A NEW WHEELBEARING WAS INSTALLED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. WHILE THIS TRUCK HAS BEEN IN OUR POSSESSION, WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO IT TO MAKE IT SHEAR STUDS AND BREAK BEARINGS LIKE THAT. THE PREVIOUS OWNER TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF THE TRUCK AS WELL, INCLUDING SERVICING AND REPLACING PARTS, AND MAINTENANCE.*AK

WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY GOING OUT. OWN THE TRUCK FOR SINCE 91,000 MILES AND HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT RT HUB ASSEMBLY 4 TIMES. IT SEAMS TO BE GOING OUT AROUND 10,000 TO 12,000 MILES. PRIOR TO THIS ONE LAST ONE WAS DONE ON 2/04 ,6/03 & 10/02 MILEAGE NOW 141,000 W/ NEW ENGINE THAT ALSO WENT .SPUN A BEARING. I NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE MANY OF THESE HUB ASSEMBLYS GOING BAD ON 1997 RAMS 5.9 ENGINE. *AK