Dodge RAM needs a new diff. Shit. Am trying to figure out my options. Apparently they came with cheap diffs that often don’t last 70k mi. My '99 has 135k mi, so I guess that it was due.
More good news. Tow vehicle down
Steve_D
#2
I sure hope you discovered this AFTER the tow home from RA. If your luck doesn’t change soon…
I feel for you. About diff trouble, that is. I’ve had my share. :laugh:
Steve D.
Ranger
#3
The truck’s rear end started getting noisy en route to RA Friday morning. It got me home on Sunday tho. The picture that is emerging is $1500. Which is about 40% of what I paid for the truck. Grumble grumble.
ctbimmer
#4
Good thing your next event is at RRR so you don’t have far to push.
Do they have junkyards in your neck of the swamp, 'cause I would think a new diff could significantly increase your total investment in that rig.
If you don’t subscribe to the Turbo Diesel Register (aka Patton’s Party Place) you might want to scrounge up a current issue and see what advertisers in there have to offer.
Gasman
#5
Chuck is right. I just purchased a transfer case for my son’s 4X4 that was 25% the cost of a new one, had only 25K miles on it and came with a year warrenty.
IndyJim
#7
No the guy I hear is good is Alec Minotaur, h3ll of a price.
Had some fall of a truck or something.
FARTBREF
#8
Oughta be able to get a rear from a yard for $200 or so…you should be able to change it…
Al
Ranger
#10
I called Robert and he’s going to have a guy that replaced his Dodge diff recently give me a call.
Because my diff apparently has a reputation for not lasting long, no one I’ve talked to has liked the idea of a junkyard diff unless it has really low miles.
Next time I buy a cheap 10yr old truck, I’ll get a heavier duty one. I think that it was a mistake to get a 1/2 ton truck as a tow vehicle.
Now that I know that the problem is the diff, the truck goes to a specialty shop tomorrow.
donstevens
#11
TheRedBaron wrote:
Yeah - I bought one form him a few months ago for $50 cash.
Just kidding B)
drumbeater
#12
You need to build some sort of special racing diff. And maybe figure out a way to run some lines to an accusump to the diff. You could be losing gear oil pressure on on/off ramps on the interstate.
Ranger
#13
drumbeater wrote:
Under normal circumstances I would encourage you to rag my ass as long as you like. I understand a person’s cathartic need to vent one’s pent up bitterness over all of their own life’s failures, and their own tedious existance. But I draw the line at harassing my ass when I seem to be about to write an unexpected check for $1500.
King_Tut
#14
Cash for clunkers comes to mind. Instead of writing a $1500 check have the government write you a $4500 check and get a new Tundra. I just got one for my tow rig.
Ranger
#15
King Tut wrote:
That’s not a bad thought but neither my finances nor my job are on firm ground right now. Not the right time to go $15k further in debt.
drumbeater
#16
Dang, I put a smiley on it and everything.
Personally I think the Pull a part is a good idea. You can search their vehicle inventory on their website by city.
John
Ranger
#17
drumbeater wrote:
[quote]Dang, I put a smiley on it and everything.
Personally I think the Pull a part is a good idea. You can search their vehicle inventory on their website by city.
John[/quote]
I understand that you were just kidding around. But there’s nothing amusing about sums this big.
The problem with a PickNPull in this case it that apparently my type of diff doesn’t last. So I’d be faced with the daunting task of removing the entire rear end from a truck in a junkyard, perhaps only to find that the diff is not in good shape.
And I ain’t gonna kid ya, the idea of removing a rear end of a truck in a junkyard intimidates me. No power tools, no help to move the 3-400lb rear end, the truck’s body held up by something so rickety you wouldn’t feel safe putting a toe underneath it.
Removing an engine in a junkyard would be do-able, even if one had to lift the vehicle off it’s precarious supports and put it on jackstands. But removing the rear end of a truck under those circumstances?..that might be biting off too much for me.
danny325is
#18
Ranger,
Look at an Auto Recyclers or used auto part place they have the parts sitting on the self, no need to get dirty. or even some pull-a-part places, for a few bucks more they will pull it for you. From some of the better auto recyclers (nice name for a junk yard) you can even get a warranty.
All you have to do is get it home and install it.
Ranger
#19
If I find that a more durable diff is compatible with my truck, then a used diff would be workable. But because my “Chrysler 9.25” diff has a reputation for premature death, I’m not inclined to put a like used one on.