Go BottomDodge Ram differential service
 | BillMullens
Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 649 Central West Virginia 
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2004-09-21 96964
Just a heads up for Ram owners.
I had a check engine light come on in my truck. Before I took it to the dealer, I checked the maintenance schedule to see if there was anything I was behind on. My truck is a 1/2 ton '03 model 2wd, 23000 miles. The schedule calls for differential service at 15000 miles. So, I though I'd just have the dealership do it while they were checking the engine problem.
The engine problem turned out to be an intake manifold gasket. No big deal, warranty covers it. But when they took the cover off of the rear end, apparently a pin in the anti-spin unit had sheared or dropped out. The mechanic said the rear was full of metal shavings and quite a mess. So I'm glad I had them service the differential. Warranty covers it; the dealer says it is a component failure as far as they can tell.
Bill
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 | AV8R
Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 882 North Central Wisconsin 
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2004-09-21 96967
The 2003 and newer HD Dodge trucks now use American brand axle assemblies rather than the old Danas. Have they switched the 1/2 tons as well? American axle is the same manufacturer that supplies GM.
GM uses a "Gov-Lock" type anti-spin which has a number of small weights on a spinning governor which have been prone to catastrophic failures. Is this what failed on yours? ....
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| BillMullens
Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 649 Central West Virginia
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2004-09-21 96977
I won't have a chance to look at it until Friday, when it should be ready. The dealer told me he'd save the parts for me to look at (he is kind of a gearhead).
What surprised me was the 15000 service interval. I didn't think anybody ever changed the oil in differentials unless they were off-roading and thought it might be contaminated.
The rear is 9-1/4", which is the same as the traditional Chrysler rear. Don't know if it is the same unit, or just the same diameter ring gear.
Bill ....
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 | chipuren
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 193 Arkansas 
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2004-09-22 97049
My 2003 Ram 1500 started "poping" in the rear when turning after I had hauled a tractor a couple times at about 28K miles. took it in and they sold me two bottles of friction modifier, told me if that didn't cure it to get a full service. seemed to do the trick. Now I have 35K and should probably do the full service on it. ....
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 | Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada 
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2004-09-22 97051
We stopped ordering our trucks with locking rear ends a few years ago. They never stood up to the torque or load applied to them anyways.
I figure why pay for something I don't need, and doesn't work anyways.
With a bit of weight on the drive tires it's pretty tough to make them spin anyways. If that doesn't work then it's lock the front hubs time....
Best of luck. ....
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