2017 FRONT DIFF Issues

[JJC2740]

Brought my Ram 1500 Big Horn into dealer just under the 60k power train warranty for what I thought was a hard shift issue. Dealer says trans fine. Truck needs front differential replacement. Is this common? Of course , just bought it off lease. Wanted to have the once over done before warranty was up.

 

[PoMansRam]

The only issues I've read of on later model Ram 1500s where the dealer will replace the whole from diff/carrier assembly is for intermediate shaft problems. That's not usually until double that mileage though.

Did you find out what the problem was?

 

[Fast69Mopar]

Brought my Ram 1500 Big Horn into dealer just under the 60k power train warranty for what I thought was a hard shift issue. Dealer says trans fine. Truck needs front differential replacement. Is this common? Of course , just bought it off lease. Wanted to have the once over done before warranty was up.

What did your dealer say was the actual issue with the front diff? Did they say the entire housing needed to be replaced or just the differential?

 

[Tach_tech]

What did your dealer say was the actual issue with the front diff? Did they say the entire housing needed to be replaced or just the differential?

They are serviced as an assembly, so even if it was just a gear or diff problem the whole thing would be replaced.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

They are serviced as an assembly, so even if it was just a gear or diff problem the whole thing would be replaced.

Yes sir it is. I was curious what the actual issue at hand is with the front diff. I was hoping the dealer provided and explanation instead of just saying there is a problem with the front diff and we have to replace it. I'm always interested in what the root cause of the failure is.

 

[indept]

They are serviced as an assembly, so even if it was just a gear or diff problem the whole thing would be replaced.

The scary thing about that is for those of us that keep our vehicles for a very long time, will these diffs be available.

Tach tech, do you know why they welded the gear in instead of bolting it like every diff for the last 100+ years were assembled?. This diff takes away any hope of regearing.

 

[Tach_tech]

The scary thing about that is for those of us that keep our vehicles for a very long time, will these diffs be available.

Tach tech, do you know why they welded the gear in instead of bolting it like every diff for the last 100+ years were assembled?. This diff takes away any hope of regearing.

I’m sure the diffs will be available for a long time, even when no new units are available, used will be. There’s so many of these trucks out there and they seem to want to keep the 4th gen alive that I don’t think parts availability will be an issue.

I honestly have no idea why the ring gear is welded. My only guesses would be ease of manufacturing.

 

[indept]

That's my first guess too, cheaper. It's probably welded using robots to ensure good balance.

 

[brad_12]

Yes sir it is. I was curious what the actual issue at hand is with the front diff. I was hoping the dealer provided and explanation instead of just saying there is a problem with the front diff and we have to replace it. I'm always interested in what the root cause of the failure is.

I agree. I wouldn't accept an answer with no explanation.

Is it as simple as the cv clip failed and it ground down the intermediate shaft.

 

[Fast69Mopar]

I agree. I wouldn't accept an answer with no explanation.

Is it as simple as the cv clip failed and it ground down the intermediate shaft.

Totally agree. I give all of my customers an explanation whether they ask for it or not. If they can diagnose the problem down to something in the front diff then they should be able to provide an explanation.

I would ask the service manager for an explanation of the diagnosis and the recommended repairs.

 

[JJC2740]

To all that responded , thank you! 2 weeks now and still waiting in parts. All I could get out of them was they are waiting on the diff and axels came in , which they didn’t mention on the one or two times I managed to actually get through to them. Will post update this week.

 

[brad_12]

To all that responded , thank you! 2 weeks now and still waiting in parts. All I could get out of them was they are waiting on the diff and axels came in , which they didn’t mention on the one or two times I managed to actually get through to them. Will post update this week.

So if they ordered cv axles too it leads me to take a guess that it may have been your clip failed on passenger side leading to loose axle grinding the splines down on intermediate shaft.

Not sure though because you said it had a hard shift feel. Just brainstorming.

 

[JJC2740]

UPDATE******. Got the Ram Back. The best information I got from the dealer , ( like pulling teeth to get an explanation) was excessive play in the axels and front differential failure. Sorry that’s about as much as I could pull out of them. Thanks for the replies!

 

[PoMansRam]

Good to hear they got you fixed up.

Like said it, it would have been nice to know what the root cause was. Like said, sounds like intermediate shaft wear, which is disturbing on such a new truck. Makes you wonder if a unseated circlip sped the failure up, or if it was just the "normal" dirt intrusion that messed up the splines on the intermediate shaft, wallowing them out.

 

[JJC2740]

I’m not sure. Like I said this dealer in jersey city is impossible to get in touch with and the explanation wasn’t much of one. At 50k same dealer replaced valves and lifters for a tap. I drove out of lot and drove right back in with same tap. Culprit was exhaust manifold bolts. Anyway. New top end , manifold bolts and gaskets, axels and diff. So hopefully since I bought it off lease that’s the end of issues.