My truck is feeling its age

[craig333]

Just passed smog. Another box to check off

 

[Vic Harder]

Foy, I bought a 2015 chev diesel in the spring. That's after doing days and days of R&D to determine which of the newer trucks have the least issues. And even so, I immediately took it to a local diesel shop and spent $13K to have them rip out all the troublesome bits, including the fuel pump, as those are known to self-destruct taking out ALL of the fuel system with them. Super expensive to repair, not to mention a very expensive tow if it happened out in the boonies.

All trucks have issues. Your 7.3L is one of the most reliable ever made. I almost bought one, but really have a hard time with how the solid axle trucks drive/handle. Could be that the ones I drove were all set up badly? I like a smoother (not to mention quieter) ride!

 

[Foy]

Vic,

The ride on mine can be terrible and it had gotten that way by the time she was around 13-14 years old on OEM leaf springs. I had a truck shop install 4 new leaf spring packs and 4 Bilstein 5100 series shocks and it made a world of difference. The ride is vastly better, but I don't think I can personally use "handling" and "2002 F350 crew cab long bed SRW 4WD diesel" in the same sentence. She still "handles" like she always has--like a Porsche 911 with 4 flat tires............
Kidding aside, the new springs and shocks made what handling a 9,500 lb truck has notably better. Less body roll/sway, less nose dive in dips, etc.
Nothing to do about the loud part, however. They don't rattle like an old Cummins 12-valve, but they don't miss it much. Good part is the rattle puts my wife to sleep, which minimizes noise from the passenger seat.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

<snip>
They don't rattle like an old Cummins 12-valve, but they don't miss it much. Good part is the rattle puts my wife to sleep, which minimizes noise from the passenger seat.

Foy, yer a brave man.

 

[Foy]

Foy, yer a brave man.

Not really. The Missus doesn't read WTW, so occasionally snide comments are risk free...................

 

[Jon R]

...

Aftermarket alternators seem to be of dubious quality ...
Foy

This has been my experience as well, with noisy bearings being a chief complaint even when they otherwise have reasonable life. Meanwhile, with internet sources available, the cost of OEM replacements seems to have come down quite a bit (at least for the GM and Toyota products I own). I have for some time now only purchased OEM alternators when I need a replacement.

 

[Swaff1]

Foy,

Sounds like a good truck to me!

 

[Foy]

Foy,

Sounds like a good truck to me!

Thanks, she's been a peach and that's why she's still in the fleet. Will be pulling the oil and ATF samples in the next 2-3 weeks but anticipating good numbers, so the long maintenance and service needs list will be established soon and and checked off over the next several months.

Foy