The third full-size truck conversation
The Ram 1500 sells roughly 400,000 units per year in the United States and has a fleet population in the millions. The 4th-gen DS (2009 to 2018, plus 2019 to 2024 as Ram 1500 Classic) accounts for a substantial chunk of current shop traffic, with the 5th-gen DT (2019 to 2026) catching up rapidly. Tie rod failure window on the Ram tracks the F-150 and Silverado closely: 80,000 to 140,000 miles for the outer end on a typical commuter half-ton, earlier on Rebel and RHO off-road trims.
One Ram-specific factor worth flagging is the coil-spring rear suspension that has been standard on all DS and DT generations. The coil-spring rear is more sensitive to thrust angle than a leaf-spring rear, which means a four-wheel alignment after front-axle tie rod work matters even more on a Ram than on an F-150 or Silverado. Most competent alignment shops know this; some chain shops will quote two-wheel alignment on a Ram to save the customer money, which is a false economy.
Ram dealer labor rates run slightly lower than Ford or GM dealer rates in most metros (typically $125 to $185/hr vs $140 to $200/hr for Ford or GM), which narrows the dealer / independent price gap on a Ram tie rod job compared to the F-150 or Silverado equivalents. The dealer markup over a competent independent on a Ram tie rod job typically runs 20 to 30 percent, vs 25 to 35 percent for the GM and Ford trucks.
By generation
Pricing triangulated against RepairPal Ram 1500 estimator data, RockAuto current parts pricing, and Mopar dealer published labor times as of May 2026.
| Service | Parts | Labor | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer end (1 side), DT 4WD | $50 to $110 | $160 to $260 | $240 to $400 |
| Outer end (1 side), DS 4WD | $45 to $100 | $160 to $260 | $230 to $390 |
| Inner end (1 side), DT 4WD | $80 to $170 | $240 to $390 | $350 to $580 |
| Inner end (1 side), DS 4WD | $75 to $160 | $230 to $380 | $340 to $560 |
| Full both-sides + alignment, DT 4WD | $240 to $560 | $600 to $1,000 | $910 to $1,640 |
Pricing as of May 2026. Add $95 to $145 for the four-wheel alignment that every Ram tie rod job requires.
What changes across the Ram lineup
DT (2019 to 2026)
5th gen Ram 1500, current truck. Coil-spring rear suspension differentiates from F-150 and Silverado. Mopar OEM 68317869AB typical outer for the standard 4WD. eTorque hybrid uses same linkage.
DS (2009 to 2018)
4th gen, kept in production alongside DT through 2024 as Ram 1500 Classic. Same coil-spring rear; tie rod parts continuity with DT for many trims. Aging fleet with deep aftermarket support.
DR (2002 to 2008)
3rd gen. Older platform with leaf-spring rear suspension. Aftermarket catalogue extensive but plan whole-linkage refresh on high-mile keepers.
RHO / TRX / Rebel
Performance off-road variants. RHO with 540 hp twin-turbo I6 (2025+) replaces the TRX. Heavier-duty tie rods on Rebel and off-road trims; check VIN-specific part numbers.
The RHO is the new performance off-road variant launched for 2025, replacing the TRX. It uses a twin-turbo I6 powertrain rather than the supercharged Hellcat V8, but retains the Dana 60 front axle and heavy-duty steering linkage. Parts pricing on the RHO runs roughly 30 to 50 percent higher than standard DT trims for the same job, reflecting the upgraded hardware. The Rebel sits in the middle: standard DT chassis with off-road suspension and tires, similar linkage as the standard truck, slightly accelerated wear from off-road duty.
Ram parts catalogue, ranked
| Brand | Outer (each) | Inner (each) | Warranty | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mopar OEM | $130 to $260 | $190 to $340 | 12 mo / 12k mi | Sold through Ram dealers. Identical to factory spec. |
| Moog Premium Steering | $50 to $110 | $80 to $160 | Limited lifetime | Problem Solver line. Common indie default. |
| Mevotech Supreme | $48 to $105 | $78 to $155 | Limited lifetime | Strong sleeper pick, particularly well-regarded for Ram trucks. |
| TRW | $55 to $115 | $85 to $165 | Limited lifetime | OE-grade aftermarket. Solid option. |
| MAS Industries | $28 to $60 | $55 to $105 | 1 yr / 12k mi | Budget tier. Adequate on sold-soon trucks. |
A Ram-specific note: Mevotech's Supreme line is unusually well-regarded for Ram trucks, with independent forum data suggesting longer service life than even some OEM Mopar parts in snow-belt conditions. The Mevotech Supreme outer end (around $48 to $105) is the value pick for a keeper Ram.
Real Ram 1500 tie rod estimates
Anonymised estimates for a 2019 Ram 1500 Big Horn 4WD with 105,000 miles, full inner-plus-outer both-sides job plus four-wheel alignment.
- Ram dealer, Detroit: $1,520 with Mopar OEM parts and four-wheel alignment.
- Truck specialist indie, Dallas: $1,120 with Mevotech Supreme plus alignment. Mid-range value.
- Alignment shop, suburban Cleveland: $980 with Moog Premium plus alignment. Common indie default.
- Independent mechanic, rural Wyoming: $820 with TRW plus alignment subcontracted. Lowest quote.
- YourMechanic mobile, suburban Phoenix: $580 outer ends only, alignment $125 separate. Total $705.
The Ram dealer / best-independent spread on this job is $700, or 85 percent. Narrower than F-150 (124 percent) and Silverado (112 percent), reflecting Ram dealer rates that sit at the lower end of full-size truck dealer pricing.
Common Ram 1500 tie rod questions
Why is the Ram tie rod job similar in cost to the F-150 and Silverado?+
Does the eTorque hybrid Ram cost more for tie rods?+
Should I do both outer ends at the same time on a high-mile Ram?+
Is the RHO different from the TRX for tie rod replacement?+
What about the Ram 1500 Classic?+
How much for an alignment on a Ram 1500?+
DT Ram 1500 4WD: 68317869AB outer (Mopar OEM),ES801149 outer (Moog), MS90876 outer (Mevotech Supreme). Verify by year and trim via RockAuto or Ram dealer parts counter.