Ram Repair & Service in Worcester, MA

The Hemi tick: lifters, cam lobes and MDS

The tick many 5.7 Hemi owners hear is often a lifter whose roller has stopped turning. Left alone, that lifter wears a flat on the camshaft lobe, and a misfire on one cylinder follows. The Multi-Displacement System (MDS), which shuts off four cylinders on the highway, adds its own lifters and solenoids to the list of suspects.

A lifter repair on a Hemi usually means checking the cam at the same time, because a wiped lobe will eat a new lifter. We confirm the cylinder with misfire data and an inspection before quoting. Oil matters here too: the correct grade, changed on time, is cheap protection.

eTorque on the Ram 1500

Many 2019-and-later Ram 1500s have eTorque, a mild-hybrid system that replaces the alternator with a belt-driven motor-generator and adds a 48-volt battery behind the rear seat. It powers the smooth auto start-stop and helps the engine pull away. It also means a no-start, a stop-start that quits working, or a charging warning has two batteries and a motor-generator to check, not just a 12-volt battery. We test both systems before replacing anything — see battery and charging repair.

The 8-speed automatic

Rams use an 8-speed automatic built on ZF’s 8HP design. It shifts quickly and tows well, but it is not sealed for life, and its fluid level has to be checked and set at the correct temperature with a scan tool. Flares between gears, harsh downshifts or a shudder are worth a fluid check and a look at the adaptations before anyone mentions a rebuild. Our guide to the lifetime transmission fluid myth explains why.

Air suspension, cab corners and brake lines

Ram 1500s with the optional air suspension ride on four air springs fed by a compressor and a valve block. In a salt state, the lines and fittings corrode and the springs dry-rot; a truck that sits low after parking or shows an air suspension warning needs a leak test, not a guess. Older Ram trucks are also known for rust at the cab corners and rear wheel arches, and their steel brake lines take the same beating. We check all of it on the lift — see suspension and steering repair and rusted brake lines.