27 replies to this topic

[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