2003 Ram 1500 4x4 Pinion Gear

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Hi everyone,

I have a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 4x4 that started to make a howling noise when driving in 2 wheel drive. Initially I thought it may be the front wheel bearings since sometimes the noise changed when turning right and it appeared that the noise was coming from the front. I replaced the wheel bearings and the noise was still the same. I then noticed diff fluid leaking from the rear axle by the driveshaft and my first thought was "Oh man, I have to replace the pinion gear bearings."

I have done quite a bit of work on vehicles, but not much for transmissions, transfer cases, or differentials. What am I in for when replacing the pinion inner and outer bearings and bearing races? I tried to find a video on YouTube for the 3rd generations but the only one I found is one that appears to be a new axle with nothing in it - and to be honest, the guy talked way too much.

I understand that I am going to have to pull everything in the rear end apart and take out all the gears. Is there anything else I should be looking for or replacing while I'm in there replacing the pinion gear bearings? Do we know if there's a write up on this here on the forums that I can take a look at?

Thanks to all in advance.

 

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OK, no reply on this - so I'm taking that as a possible bad sign. Question #2 comes up then... if I get a different rear end out of a junk yard, does it need to be out of a 4x4 Hemi as my current truck is in order for the gear ratios to be the same? Now don't freak out at me asking that - here's my reasoning why.

I am not sure if the 2 wheel drives had a different gear ratio?
I am not sure if trucks with the 4.7 had a different gear ratio?

There isn't going to be a way to easily figure out the gear ratio of the truck in the junk yard, so I'm trying to make sure I don't get the incorrect one. According to Mopar's site, the gears in my truck are 3.55's with the corporate 9.25 LD rear axle.

Thanks.

 

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I found my own answers - and there is a slight difference between 2 wheel drive and 4 wheel drive axles, and some of the 4.7's did come with 3.55 gears.

 

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Back on the road again!