Fix It

Removal of the shifter boot in your Dodge Ram truck allows you to access the four bolts on top of the transmission retaining the shifter assembly to the transmission. The rubber boot may crack over time and require replacement as well. If this is the case, you can get a replacement from the dealer or through a salvage yard. If you remove the shifter boot and intend to reuse it, use care so you do not rip it as you pull it off the shifter shaft.

Instructions

1

Sit in the seat of your Dodge, sliding it all the way back to expose the shifter boot on the floor of the truck. Locate the metal ring on the floor surrounding the shifter boot.

2

Grasp the shifter knob on top of the shifter assembly, turn it counterclockwise to loosen it and remove it from the shifter shaft. Set the knob aside in a safe spot so you can put it back later.

3

Locate the screws in the metal ring on the floor around the shifter boot. Remove the screws with a Phillips screwdriver, and set them aside.

4

Lift the ring, and pull the boot up the shaft. Pull the entire boot assembly off the top of the shifter shaft as a unit.

The first Dodge Rams rolled out of the factory in 1981, and Dodge has continued to improve and redesign its heavy-duty pickup truck ever since. Dodge introduced the current generation of Rams in 2009. The 2010 Ram was available in several two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive trims in the 1500, 2500, 3500, 4500 and 5500 weight classes. However, the toe-in specs were the same for all trims of the Ram 1500. Likewise, all other trims of the 2010 Dodge Ram shared the same toe-in specs.

Toe

The toe of a wheel ers to the angle of the wheel in relation to the vehicles centerline. If the front of a wheel is angled inward toward the centerline, then the wheel has toe-in. If the front of a wheel angles outward away from the centerline, then the vehicle has toe-out. Most vehicles are designed for the wheels to toe in slightly. Toe is the most important alignment spec in terms of tire wear. If a wheel has the toe misaligned by just a fraction of a degree, it can significantly reduce the life of a tire. The toe is adjustable on the front ends of all trims of the 2010 Dodge Ram. It is not adjustable on the rear because the Rams come with a fixed rear axle. The specs provided below apply only to the 2010 Dodge Ram and should not be used on other model years, because alignment specs can change from year to year.

The 2010 Ram 1500

The same toe-in specs apply to all two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive trims of the 2010 Dodge Ram 1500, regardless of whether the truck came with 17-inch tires or 20-inch tires. The ideal toe-in setting is +0.1 degrees but it can vary by 0.36 degrees in either direction.

All Other Trims and Models of the 2010 Ram

All other trims of the 2010 Dodge Ram, including the Ram 2500, the Ram 3500, the Ram 3500 Heavy Duty Chassis-Cab, the Ram 4500 Heavy Duty Chassis-Cab and the Ram 5500 Heavy Duty Chassis Cab, came with the same toe-in specs. The specs were the same for Box Off and standard trims. The ideal setting for the toe-in is +0.2 degrees but it can range by 0.1 degree in either direction.

The Dodge RAM is a series of pickup trucks in a variety of carrying capacities and trim levels. The 1997 models use multi-port fuel injection to deliver fuel to the engine under high pressure. The fuel pump in these vehicles is part of a module that also includes the fuel gauge sending unit and float. The fuel pump module in a 1997 Dodge RAM is attached to the top of the fuel tank, so you must disconnect the fuel tank to install a new fuel pump.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the negative battery cable with a socket wrench to ensure you dont inadvertently attempt to start the engine. Open the filler cap for the fuel tank to relieve the pressure in the fuel tank and remove the cap from the fuel pressure port on the fuel rail.

2

Attach a fuel pressure gauge to the fuel pressure port and place the open end of the pressure gauges hose into a gasoline container. Open the pressure gauge to relieve the fuel pressure in the fuel system. Remove the pressure gauge from the fuel pressure port and replace the cap.

3

Pump the fuel from the fuel tank into a gasoline container with a hose. Raise the vehicle with a floor jack and support it with jack stands. Disconnect the fuel line and electrical connection from the fuel gauge unit. Remove the mounting screws for the filler tube assembly with a socket wrench and disconnect the filler tube from the fuel tank.

4

Support the fuel tank with a transmission jack and remove the nuts for the fuel tanks mounting straps. Lower the tank slightly with the transmission jack so you can detach the fill hose and vent hose to the fuel tank. Remove the electrical connections for the fuel tank. Disconnect the evaporative emissions line and the fuel supply line. Remove the fuel tank from the vehicle.

5

Disconnect the fuel line to the fuel pump module. Clean the fuel tank around the fuel pump module with the shop towel to ensure that debris doesnt fall into the fuel tank when you replace the fuel pump.

6

Turn the locking ring for the fuel pump module counterclockwise with a socket wrench. Remove the locking ring from the fuel pump module, and clean the fuel filter at the bottom of the fuel pump module. Discard the gasket for the fuel pump module.

7

Install the new fuel pump module and its gasket by performing steps three through six in reverse. Tighten the locking ring for the fuel pump module to 40 ft-lbs. with a torque wrench. Fill the fuel tank with fuel and connect the negative terminal for the battery with a socket wrench.

The steering gear in a 1998 Dodge Ram is the box that mounts onto the frame of the truck and connects the steering column to the steering linkage. The gears used to make the connection can wear down to the point that they are no longer effective. To fix the issue, you need to rebuild the steering gear or replace it entirely. First though, you have to remove it from the frame.

Instructions

1

Park the Ram with the front wheels pointing straight. Crawl under the front of the Ram. Remove the power steering lines running to the steering gear with a line wrench.

2

Pop the hood. Unbolt the steering coupler from the steering gear with the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Unbolt the pitman arm bolt from the bottom of the steering box with the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Remove the pitman arm from the steering gear using the pitman arm puller.

3

Unbolt the steering gear from the frame with the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket and an open-end wrench. Take the steering gear off the frame and out from under the Ram.

The Dodge Ram Sport is a full-sized pickup truck made by Chrysler. The 1999 model year represented the end of the second generation for the Dodge Ram Sport. Like all trucks, the Ram takes a lot of abuse due to the design and intended use of the truck. One of the components that will eventually need servicing is the exhaust system. The stock exhaust on a 1999 Dodge Ram Sport will need to be removed if you want to upgrade it to a stainless steel exhaust. However, many people remove the exhaust to replace it because of corrosion or damage caused by road salt.

Instructions

1

Place a jack stand under the exhaust piping at various intervals to support the exhaust while you remove it.

2

Unbolt the exhaust to manifold bolts located at the front of the exhaust system. You may need to use an extended handle on the socket wrench, called a "breaker bar," to apply additional leverage on the bolts to remove them.

3

Disconnect the electrical wiring on the O2 sensors on the exhaust. These are plug-style connectors that pull right off.

4

Separate the exhaust piping from the manifold. It should pull right apart, but depending on where you live and the condition of the piping, you may need to pry the joint apart with a large flat-tip screwdriver.

5

Slide the exhaust piping and muffler off the rubber exhaust hangers on the underbody of the Dodge and drop the exhaust down gently onto the ground.

The Dodge Ram series of full-size pickup trucks is manufactured by Chrysler under its Dodge brand. The 3500 models have a rated carrying capacity of 3/4 ton, although the actual carrying capacity is higher than this. The 2004 Dodge Ram 3500 with a diesel engine uses a fuel lift pump (transfer pump) to move fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel system. The fuel lift pump on this vehicle attaches to the rear of the fuel filter.

Instructions

1

Place a gasoline container under the fuel filter separator and turn the drain plug on the bottom of the separator in a counterclockwise direction. Drain the fuel from the fuel filter and tighten the drain plug.

2

Detach the electrical connector on the fuel lift pump. Disconnect the fuel line for the fuel lift pump from the inner left frame rail.

3

Remove the mounting bolts for the fuel lift pump from the fuel filter, using a hex wrench.

Discard the O-ring in the housing of the fuel filter.

4

Mount a new O-ring on the fuel lift pump, then coat the O-ring with a thin layer of new engine oil. Place the fuel lift pump into position so that it is flush with the fuel filter housing. Fasten the mounting bolts for the fuel lift pump, and tighten them to 61 inch-pounds, using a torque wrench.

5

Connect the fuel line to the connection on the inner left frame rail. Attach the electrical connector for the fuel pump.

6

Turn the ignition on for two seconds to prime the fuel system, then check for fuel leaks. Start the engine and check again for fuel leaks.