durango weaknesses

[fordjay16]

what are the main weaknesses with the durango?

[2Fuzy]

are we talking dodge? it depends what you want from it.

[fordjay16]

I'm talkin just the durango. What are common problems with it.

[2Fuzy]

the proplems that have been of any thing of a serious kind that I have seen happen only with the people that are using it to tow somthing and it is do to the constant shifting of the tranny when they tow its always kicking down and overheats the electronic controls(burns up the brian box) in the older ones this problem may have been corrected with the newer tranny

[Dave42]

I'm very happy with my 1998 5.9 Liter Durango, except the brakes... they scare the life out of me. Try to do an emergency stop from about 30 mph... I get some initial bite, then they fade, and how ever hard I press they don't allow me to lock up... not that I'd want to lock up, but in my opinion the brakes should be powerful enough to allow me to do it.

Does anyone else have the same criticism?

Does anyone know of a brake upgrade kit that fixes the problem?

[pflumingo]

Yes... There is a way to make it lock up... Disable the ABS... I can stop almost instantly without lockup though from 60... Also, You can get upgraded front rotors, the vented ones, and genuine ASBESTOS raybestos front shoes, and rear... The non-Asbestos ones are a bit softer, except for the metal flakes that eat your rotors and drums... If you really want to lock up the brakes, pump them 3 times, and on the third, hold it to the floor... It'll lock em up then, as the pumping disengages the ABS.

[PopKorn]

Originally Posted by Dave42

I'm very happy with my 1998 5.9 Liter Durango, except the brakes... they scare the life out of me. Try to do an emergency stop from about 30 mph... I get some initial bite, then they fade, and how ever hard I press they don't allow me to lock up... not that I'd want to lock up, but in my opinion the brakes should be powerful enough to allow me to do it.

Does anyone else have the same criticism?

Does anyone know of a brake upgrade kit that fixes the problem?

I used to complain about the brakes. The people at the U-cart concrete place wouldn't let me tow a yard with it. Said Durango brakes arent good enough. I put some Raybestos Pro somm series rotors and pads on the 98. And WOW!!! Stops on a dime - as it should. Did all the work myself and it still cost around 250$.

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by pflumingo

Yes... There is a way to make it lock up... Disable the ABS... I can stop almost instantly without lockup though from 60... Also, You can get upgraded front rotors, the vented ones, and genuine ASBESTOS raybestos front shoes, and rear... The non-Asbestos ones are a bit softer, except for the metal flakes that eat your rotors and drums... If you really want to lock up the brakes, pump them 3 times, and on the third, hold it to the floor... It'll lock em up then, as the pumping disengages the ABS.

My 1998 Durango only has ABS on the rear brakes, and I think you're talking about disabling ABS on the front brakes... later Durango's had this. However, if my Durango had front ABS, I'd expect to be able to cause the ABS to cut in when braking on a dry road. I cannot even leave black marks on the road!

[lineman2238]

Biggest problem in durango's is the pinion shaft bearings wear out anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000 miles.
tranny problems shifting. Very important to change tranny fluid every 30,000 miles.