I have a Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 for hauling my boat and other ranch items. With less than 60,000 miles it is now in the shop getting a new $2,000 differential for the rear. They tell me many of them blow out with so few miles. My boat is only 3500 lbs, but I live up an 1800 foot elevation change. Anybody have similar experience?

Tom

SORRY COULDN'T HELP IT-- Shoulda bought a CHEVY

I ran my Dodge for 188,000 miles. 1/2 ton 4x4 360 but a 3.92 gear. Never a problem.

Tom just replaced one in a customers truck. The pinion nut came loose and blew the pinion out the bottom of the diff. I have replaced about 2-3 a year.

Ratio is important high 3's or low 4's is good for 3000-7000lbs range

I'd expect you could hear gear whine if the pinion nut got loose..

Had a Dana44 in a Jeep CJ that got loose, and it drooled gear oil long before any problems... Always retorqued it every U-joint replacement (about 15,000 miles for a Ujoint - it was lifted a good bit).

A buddy of mine worked in the transmission plant for chrystler. He said there quality control is a joke. They are supposed to inspect the various parts before shipping, which didn't happen. There motto was ship it!!!! He had a chance to purchase a Dodge truck with the employee discount, but passed after what he had seen.

Chevy or GMC is the way to go, My Mom works for Chyrsler and I am eligbile for discount but pass on it.

That was my biggist problem with Chrysler products. Their quality control, or lack of, is the worst. Every one I owned had problems that just shouldn't happen. I'll never buy another.
It's a real shame too, they have some really nice looking vehicles.

I spent 8 years as a Quality Assurance Inspector. I took great pride in my work, I loved having the responsibility for how the product turned out.
What I couldn't understand was why the production managers spent so much time trying to bypass my inspections. They really worked hard at getting componnents installed before I could look at them. They just wanted to slap it together and get it out the door. I guess they didn't care if it worked right or not.
"Ship it, we'll fix it later" or "that's why it has a warrenty".
I hated that.

chrysler has had problems with the rear ends for a long time in their 4x4 trucks!! the soluition?? switch to GM!!!