2020 ram 2500 rear diff problem

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Wyo72

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Hello All

I have been feeling a vibration/binding while turning at low speeds in my 2020 2500 6.4 so i had my local dealer take a look at it . Truck has been at the dealer for close to a week and all they have told me so far is the rear differential has to be disasembled to find out what exactly the problem is and they would let me know what they find. Has anyone else had this issue and if so what did the problem end up being? Mine is a 3:73 anti spin, current milage 22,000 . Thanks.
 

GTyankee

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"they have told me so far is the rear differential has to be disassembled" ????????????????????????????

That could really be a misstatement
15 minutes to put the vehicle on a hoist
Taking the differential cover off using an air wrench takes 5 - 10 minutes, ( 12 short bolts )
rotating & cleaning the 3rd member & visual inspection, another 10 - 15 minutes
chalking the pinion gear & rotating it to check the wear pattern, 10 minutes
 
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Wyo72

Wyo72

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Have no doubt its a misstatement, but I can only go by what the service writer is telling me. More wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue, especially with so few miles.
 

mtnrider

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Have no doubt its a misstatement, but I can only go by what the service writer is telling me. More wondering if anyone else has had a similar issue, especially with so few miles.

I am on pretty much all the HD Ram pages and this is the first one I have ever heard of having an issue like this so I am sure this is just a one off.

.
 

crash68

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I wonder if the differential fluid is light on friction modifier or there a problem with the clutch type LSD. Starting with the 2019 model year the HD trucks switched to a clutch type LSD, the prior years were a helical gear type.
 
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Wyo72

Wyo72

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Being low on friction modifier was my 1st thought also. I thought about just adding some before I took it in to see if it made a difference but figured it would just give them a reason to try to deny warranty. Hopefully I will get a phone call tomorrow and I will report back. My concern is if they have to order parts how long it may take.
 

stevenP

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On my third RAM HD, never had an issue with the diffs so far that was anything but a fluid couldnt fix.
 
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Wyo72

Wyo72

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Heard from the dealer today, it seems bearing(s) went out in the differential damaging the housing itself. New housing and bearings are on order and should be here in 5 days or so. Service writer didn't know, but only thing I can figure is maybe a defect from the factory or not enough diff. fluid from the factory (never leaked a drop so rules out a leak.) Truck has always been serviced at the dealer and checking fluid level is supposedly part of their multi point inspection. At least its all covered under warranty I guess...
 

stevenP

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I checked the fluid level in both diffs on my new 2022, and found them very low. Ended up adding nearly two quarts between the two. My wife found several complaints on the NTSB site, stating there was a period of time from the factory the diffs were improperly filled.
 

06 Dodge

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I checked the fluid level in both diffs on my new 2022, and found them very low. Ended up adding nearly two quarts between the two. My wife found several complaints on the NTSB site, stating there was a period of time from the factory the diffs were improperly filled.
That tells me the the dealer(s) did not do proper PDI on the truck, they are paid or use to be to make sure all the fluids are topped off along with other things before delivery to the customer...
 

stevenP

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That tells me the the dealer(s) did not do proper PDI on the truck, they are paid or use to be to make sure all the fluids are topped off along with other things before delivery to the customer...
The only reason I checked the levels was due to the complaints I found on the NTSB site. Really who expects to have to double check this stuff on a new vehicle? Its not really hard to check the fluid levels in the diffs, but for some people they would not be able to do it themselves. I was surprised it was that low.
 

06 Dodge

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If you found about it on the NTSB that tells me a lot of Ram dealers are not doing proper PDI (PDI = Pre Delivery Inspection) on every vehicle before its put on the lot or given to the customer, yes the factory is at fault for not fill it all the way, but that is why every dealer is suppose to do a PDI before deliver or put on the lot for sale to catch things like this, again the dealer is at Fault for not **** a Proper PDI....
 
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Wyo72

Wyo72

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I don't want to jump to conclusions, but if low fluid turns out to be the cause i'm going to be pretty ticked off. Not only did they miss it on the PDI but also the 4 other times its been there getting serviced. I defiantly have the capability to check level myself, and now wish I would have, but didn't figure I would need to double check something they supposedly already did.
 

GTyankee

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I don't recall just when, year wise

some year the rear differentials fill point was drilled too low
The hole was actually below the axle tubes, so the wheel bearings were not getting lubed enough.

When the complaints began coming in, they began investigating
Then there was a Recall on the differential Inspection Covers
They had decided rather than drill a raised fill point in the center pumpkin & thread the hole to fit a plug.

Then instead, they decided that it was less costly & more efficient to drill a fill hole into the Inspection Covers that were blank & insert a rubber plug into that new hole.

As a temporary Fix, Owners & Dealerships had to unscrew the air vent that is attached to the top of the drivers side axle tube. Then they had to add a given amount of fluid into through that vented air port, to raise the level enough to lubricate the wheel bearings.

I just looked it up, it was in 2011, the first year of the ZF rear differential

1662024305894.png

you can see the Vent Tube, just to the left of the Pumpkin

1662024440063.png
 

fitz7

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I had my rear diff go on a 2019 ram 1500 warlock at 46500 km. I am in canada but read there was a recall on improperly filled rear diffs from manufacturing. Took 2 montha for a pinion and bearing kit to be installed. I got the truck back and it had bad vibrations. They said keep driving on it as the diff will feel stiff. Day 3 i get a grind noise on my way home from work. Rear diff replacement blew in 3 days. Next rear diff took 5 weeks. My 4 x 4 hums since my rear diff blew twice and was repaired. When i shift back to 2 wheel drive out of 4 x 4 i hear my winter tires humming but th eofd time i hear a wirrrr sound faintly. Worried the diff will go again. The tech at dodge said its my tires and keep driving it, if ir breaks ir will be repaired under warranty. I asked id it could be a drive shaft issue or something related to the diff damage the may have damaged other parts? He said it was unnlikely and told me to keep driving it. I am worried taking the vehicle anywhere outside city limits atm. As soon as the noise goes away i am selling it and never buying another ram. I do wonder if canadian rams have the same low diff fluid issue as the recall in the US? I honestly believe the housing where the first bearings blew scarred the housing and putting new bearings in was the cheaper repair. But for them to blow in 3 days? I am onn day 3 of driving with my trucks 3rd bearing kit and i do hear faint noise.
 

Wild one

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I had my rear diff go on a 2019 ram 1500 warlock at 46500 km. I am in canada but read there was a recall on improperly filled rear diffs from manufacturing. Took 2 montha for a pinion and bearing kit to be installed. I got the truck back and it had bad vibrations. They said keep driving on it as the diff will feel stiff. Day 3 i get a grind noise on my way home from work. Rear diff replacement blew in 3 days. Next rear diff took 5 weeks. My 4 x 4 hums since my rear diff blew twice and was repaired. When i shift back to 2 wheel drive out of 4 x 4 i hear my winter tires humming but th eofd time i hear a wirrrr sound faintly. Worried the diff will go again. The tech at dodge said its my tires and keep driving it, if ir breaks ir will be repaired under warranty. I asked id it could be a drive shaft issue or something related to the diff damage the may have damaged other parts? He said it was unnlikely and told me to keep driving it. I am worried taking the vehicle anywhere outside city limits atm. As soon as the noise goes away i am selling it and never buying another ram. I do wonder if canadian rams have the same low diff fluid issue as the recall in the US? I honestly believe the housing where the first bearings blew scarred the housing and putting new bearings in was the cheaper repair. But for them to blow in 3 days? I am onn day 3 of driving with my trucks 3rd bearing kit and i do hear faint noise.
The cars also have a rep of being shipped low on diff fluid.My wifes Challenger took almost a litre of diff fluid to bring it up to where i could touch it with my finger.
 
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