1994-2002 Dodge diesel question

I've always liked these trucks.Whether it's the looks of them or the Cummins diesel or the available 6 spd trans, I don't know, I just like them. I'm wondering about a few things like the front ends on them. I've always heard these wear out on them and aren't exactly cheap to replace but are some models worse than others? Are the 1 ton trucks better than the 3/4 ton? I also wonder about the lift pump problem I've read about. Is it just the 98.5+ 24valve that have this problem or the 12 valve too? When did the 6 spd transmission become available? I always thought it became an option when the 24 valve came out. Also just wondering about anything else these trucks may have problems with or anything specific to these trucks. Thanks for your replies and expertise on this matter. Just looking for a real farm truck to replace a GMC K1500.

As far as i can tell, the one ton is the same as a 3/4ton except for the wheels...

i've got a 98.5 3/4 ton, 24v, we've done the front end once (4x4)i think it cost $2000 ish in parts, teh heavy cummins is the problem there... there is over 4500lbs of weight on the front axle alone without anything else on the truck.

The 24v seem to have a fuel pump problem (according to some people), we've got 400000km on ours (250000miles) and had no issue, but then again, our engine is stock, no mods at all...

6 speed came out in 2000 ish, my 98 has a 5 speed, nice thing about the 6 is they fixed the massive gap between 3rd and 4th gear, top gear remains the same ratio, so no gain on speed/rpm in top (i personally think they all need a higher top gear for running with no load).

The only other issues wee've had with ours, are poor braking, although we seem to have finally fixed that with a complete set of brakes, and new calipers/wheel cylinders. And we've had some transfer box problems on and off over the years... now on transferbox number 3... cummins torque is hard on drive trains... countless u h joints and the front axle disconect for tyhe 4x4 is now welded on all the time (best thing i ever did)

I have a 98.5 24 Valve 3500 HD long wheel base chassis with custom bed, 5 speed 4.10 posi traction 2WD. Never any front end problems. I pull a 25 ft. gooseneck and haul 2 tractors. Gross about 24,000#. I replaced the fuel lift pump with an in tank unit at 40,000 miles,just for safetys sake. Replaced exhaust manifold with 3 piece and installed exhaust brake and a hypertec programmer. Added air bags on rear. I wouldn't trade it for a new one. The six speed came out in 99 or 2000 I think. The biggest problem with the 5 speed is there is too much ratio difference between 3rd and 4th gear, but I don't like the shift pattern on the 6 speed.I have 4 Fords,never liked Chevys, but my favorite is definately the Dodge.

Doesn't answer your questions, but...........I'v got a '93 one-tone dually w/5 speed, which I bought new. It's got better than 300,000 mostly short-trip country-road miles, though it's also been a few hundred miles up the interstate on occasion. My front end man put about 300 dollars worth of parts in the front end last Spring; said that everything else was still good. I replaced the radiator after a seam let go and I've replaced the starter twice; except for wear parts (and some faded paint) everything else.........water pump, alternator, etc.........is still like the day I got it. It's pulled a LOT of heavy loads (32 ft cattle trailer, 27 ft flatbed and who-knows-how-many 6-ton fertlizer buggies; it is SLOW off the mark at red lights, but runs fine after the turbocharger spools up. I've heard some bad things about the 5-speed Getrag, but I've not had a minute's trouble with it.

02 with 95,000 on it. No front end problems or problems of any sort except my injector pump is slowly dying. Goes to dead pedal to often now. I've been pricing rebuilt ones and seems to be a pretty good price range so haven't decided on which one yet. Fuel pump is stock and still sending out 12 to 15 psi.

I have an "01 3500 with the Cummins and a 5 speed. I don"t think the front end wears out any faster than a Ford or Chevy.

The lift pump problem is only with the 98.5 to 02 24 valve engines. The lift pump supplies fuel to the VP44 injection pump, and most of the fuel is used for cooling the VP44. Low or no pressure to the VP44 will eventually cause the VP44 to die, sometimes in a few miles, a few days, a few months, or a few years. The recommended fix is a fuel pressure gauge and a new lift pump. Most prefer a FASS brand or Airdog. I have a FASS DDRP, which will mount in the same place as the original, or can be mounted on the frame rail.

If you"re looking for a manaul trans and are going to be pulling a trailer, find a 6 speed. Like the others said, there"s a big jump between 3rd and 4th.

There are some free articles on the Turbo Diesel Register website that talk about the common problems with these trucks.

3/4 and one ton front axles are the same. Ball joints can be a problem but not hard to replace. Front sway bar link to frame can wear out (ball joint end) Stay from 5 speed. Same NV4500 that GM used, but the overdrive 5th gear gear is different then the GM. The dodge verison, the Mainshaft nut comes loose and causes you to loose 5th gear. can be fixex in truck by removing rear trans overdrive case. The 6 speeds are a lot better and heavier. Shift nicer too. Put a lift pump guage on the dash like the others said with new pump right away. Dodges are good trucks for what their worth. Cummins good. Just remember, anything tires will give you trouble.

I had an 01 2500, got a 99 3500 now. With both of them, full front end at 155-160,000 miles. Runs about 2 grand for everything with a lifetime warrarnty. What you hear on the lift pump is spot on. They run without them, and run long enough to ruin an injection pump. My 01 needed a top end at 181,000 and a clutch.

The biggest difference I"ve noticed between the two is the axles are different. Both have Dana 4:10"s but the 2500 was I think a C40 and the 3500 a C60. Not sure how it works out this way but with the same gearing but the 3500 definitely takes more rpms for the same speed.

Both 5 speeds, both decent trucks. Feels like the 3500 is going to need a clutch too at about 175,000 or so. Hopefully it wont need a head too. I put close to 300,000 hard miles on the 2500. Shot my mouth off and sold it but ended up with the 3500 for even money and half the miles. Plus the 3500 had been babied for those miles. Pulled a little Terramite backhoe around digging graves. Not babied now, lol. Both got 15-16 mpg empty, 9-10 loaded heavy.

I cant see that they are all that and a bag of chips though. I"ve got an 09 F250 with a 5.4 gas engine. It gets 12 mpg empty and 7 loaded which with the difference in fuel prices is about the same money. Napa will sell me a long block for the Ford gas engine for less I spent on head work on the Dodge. They do handle a load better but a lot of that is the difference between automatic and 5 speed.

I said I was going to get a 1/2 ton when I sold my 2500 and then get an International 4900 with a DT 466 and air brakes. Still convinced that its better to go that route but significant others dad was tired of having a payment on a truck he didnt drive........ hence the D3500

I've had 5 cummins trucks. The lift pump problems are in 24 valve trucks. It is an electric pump that mounts on the side of the motor and some had a pump in the tank. Both are junk. You are better off to spend about $500 and buy and good fuel system with better pump and better filtration. The 12 valve trucks don't really have a problem with lift pumps. They are mechanial and driven off of the cam. They do go out but its not nearly as often as 24 valve trucks. The 5 spd tranny is not the same as the GM version. Some of the gears are bigger in a dodge, also the synchros are better in a dodge( made out of a different material). You can buy parts for the 5 speed relativly cheap and can get a brand new trans for around $1800. The 6spd became an option in 2001. There are some parts in these transmissions that are different from those fround in 03 t0 05 model trucks. They are ok transmissions. 1st and 6th gears have the same ratio as 1st and 5th in a 5 speed. The is just a gear in between 3rd and 4th in a 6spd. The front ends do go out but its not any different than any other truck. I had a 96 that made it 230K before I had to replace the front end. But that being said maintanace never hurts either. The front ends are the same in ton or 3/4 ton trucks. Only difference is the ton will have spacers for the front tires. One other problem that 12 valve trucks have is there is no relay on the high beam side of the headlight switch. So after a while if you don't watch it the switch will over heat and melt part of the end of the harness where it plugs into the switch in the dash. This was also a problem on some of the early 24 valves I believe. Hope this helps some. I love all of mine and will never have anything but cummins trucks to work out of.