98 dodge ram - 4x4

62,000 miles I heard a whining coming from the rear end............had the carrier bearings & pinion bearing replaced. It cost about 5-600 bucks.

I now have 96,000 miles, and had one U-joint that was replaced. 2 weeks ago.

That's been the list of problems for my truck

I don't think I saw it in any of your posts. What year is the truck and is it still under warrenty. Driveline parts generally have a longer warrenty. Just a thought.

Gernerally, if you're doing a lot of towing it's a good idea to change the gear oil frequently and put a diff cover on that dissipates heat better. There's plenty of aftermarket stuff that will work well. GM recommends a different diff fluid for heavy towing. Sorrry, I don't know what it is.

Otherwise, that really sucks it broke on the highway. I break them, but it's because I do rock crawling in the east coast mountains (or should I say hills)

Take er easy!

Tom,
Sorry to hear about your diff. problems.
If it were a Dana I would send you the parts!
Daimler-Chrysler gave Dana the boot this year (m/y 2003) and
gave the heavy rear axle buisness to American Axle Corp..

American is apparently charging less for their axles...............so be aware.

Ernie @
Dana Light Axle Div.

buy a ford.. 3.73

somebody posted that the unit was an aluminum-case Dana 44. Is this correct? In a 5500 pound 260 horsepower 360 V8 4x4?

You gotta be kidding me! My little 100 horsepower 3.4L inline 6, 2700 pound CJ5 had a cast-iron Dana 44 and I still twisted three axle shafts apart in it. I can't imagine somebody actually specc'ing a soft ALUMINUM version of the same marginal unit in a fullsize 4x4...

Tell me it's not true...

mcollinstn-
The 1500 Dodge Ram comes with the 9.25" out back and a Dana 44 up front.

2500 Ram's come with the Dana 60, 70, or 80 out back, depending on the motor/trans package, etc. 2500's and 3500's have the Dana 60 up front.


You guys just wait until your Dodge starts pinging/detonating.

I had a 1994 ram 360 4x4 with 3.55 gears. Sold with 177,000 miles looked and ran great when I sold last year only had 1 problem TRans.. I put AMSOIL in it 3000 miles later ...DONE other than that great truck. But had to get a GMC.

- - - - Pinging - - - -

I thought this was a normal occurrence with these - lol. Mines been doing it for the longest time. I took it in when it was new (in 98) and they told me this was normal......C'mon, a little ping is usually followed by a big bang ! So I always ran midgrade. If I ran normal gas, it sounded like someone was dumping gravel into a pie pan !!!!!!!!!!!!

I guess when it hitws about 100k, I'll change the plugs & most likely go to ngks, and maybe a couple of steps colder

Brian - what did you do about the pinging (if anything) ??????????

I'll bet your CJ had the straight front alxe (leaf sprung, non-independant). If so, that's why it's cast iron.
My '97 F-250 4X4, with IFS, has an aluminum front differential, as do the Chevy's with IFS.