4wd Auto Problems???

[Brandon-w]

holy cow how did that even happen?

Sometimes the c clips wear out allowing the axles to slide in and out once it gets half way out it'll just tear the splines out [emoji51] poor design. I'd like to see if I can rig gm stub axles into the dodge front diff and use the 6 bolt flanges. Easier to change and stronger.

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[Hemi395]

I have a set of Cardone HD CVs ready to go on. I did pull the passengers side CV off the axle and lube the crap out of it with anti seize. Luckily mine were still in good shape. Then at the advice of @Brandon-w I added a thick O ring to the end of the CV shaft to help keep water and crap out of the splines. The small O ring thats there from the factory doesn't keep much out of the splines.

I agree its a terrible design to put splines there as a connection to the axle. The F150s are the same way. GM had the right idea by making the axle side of the CV bolt on.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

I have the cardone HDs ready to go on thanks to @Brandon-w and pretty cheap price compared to others I have viewed!

 

[stimpy433]

holy cow how did that even happen?

V6 torque baby!!! Hahaha, I have no idea, I hardly use 4wd on my truck... maybe 4 or 5 times a year???

 

[Murphy Slaw]

So, the problem stems from using it 5/6 times a year, or a faulty o-ring?

Or a bad design?

 

[Hemi395]

So, the problem stems from using it 5/6 times a year, or a faulty o-ring?

Or a bad design?

I would say its a bad design is the main culprit.

The o ring on the diff shaft is way too small to actually keep water and crap out so the splines rust as well as the c clip.

The splines have a lot of play in them so vibration over time slowly chew them up.

The c clip that is supposed to lock the CV axle to the diff shaft can stuck in the "closed" position due to rust which allows the CV axle to slide out a bit which just makes the splines go bad faster.

Its just an overall bad design to have splines on both ends of the CV axle. A GM front diff/cv setup is way better designed and doesn't have these issues because the diff side is bolted onto a flange.

This thread has more info about:

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/2012-and-up-ram-1500-passenger-side-intermediate-shafts.129667/

 

[Murphy Slaw]

This thread has more info about:

https://www.ramforum.com/threads/2012-and-up-ram-1500-passenger-side-intermediate-shafts.129667/

That thread, it looks like a lift and/or spacers added to the problem.

Am I correct to assume stock trucks have less issues with this ?

 

[RedSRT4Me]

I think my 4wd Auto crapped out today... I left my works parking lot and heard some "grinding" coming from under the truck. Kind of sounded like when you grind the transmission on a stick trying to shift. Went away after less then a minute, but felt like I was in 2wd. I got a message on the EVIC "mismatched tire size, 4wd unavailable" or something like that. I put it back into 2wd and drove home. When I went back to work I tried 4wd Auto again and something just doesn't feel right about it. Any ideas???

I would check your front hubs. Mismatched tire size error is coming from the front wheel speed sensors. A grinding noise can definitely be produced from hubs since bearings get trashed over time.

Edit: looks like the other side of the axle after reading everything. Any aftermarket differential upgrades exist for ram?

 

[fathermaxie]

For the original post, if you live somewhere that sees -30ish temps you should probably just leave the truck in 4wd lock. How long has it been since you saw actual dry pavement? You'd save a lot of cold hard static shifts if you weren't popping it in all the time.

 

[roadrnnr]

this could be your problem

 

[Dgriffi2]

I don’t know why but it’s very satisfying watching that video

 

[TOTALCHAOS69]

Well, both front cv shafts are stripped out at the front differential according to the dealership. Waiting for Maxcare Warranty approval to replace them. Fun stuff!!!

Been there! Totally helpless feeling at the bottom of a creek with a boulder against a front tire and over 45* incline both ways.

 

[boblonben]

@Brandon-w doesn’t believe in windchill! But knows his 4WD stuff!

windchill only affects warm blooded creatures NOT metals.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

windchill only affects warm blooded creatures NOT metals.

I suppose windchill doesn’t matter if your temps are -40C without lol

 

[Hemi395]

That thread, it looks like a lift and/or spacers added to the problem.

Am I correct to assume stock trucks have less issues with this ?

I think a lift would make this happen quicker but it would most likely happen after a while no matter what...

 

[Wild one]

windchill only affects warm blooded creatures NOT metals.

It does when they're cooling down,lol. Once you shut a warm vehicle off,the windchill starts to affect how fast it'll cool off to where it won't start again,lol. 60 years in Canada has taught me that one,more then once,lol.Once cooled off to ambient temps,it has no bearing though.

 

[Brandon-w]

I think I started something [emoji1787] or I should say @Lyle Longboat started something. Lol may need a forum wide poll to establish an answer [emoji1787]

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[Wild one]

I think I started something [emoji1787] or I should say @Lyle Longboat started something. Lol may need a forum wide poll to establish an answer [emoji1787]

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Windchill has no bearing once they're cooled right off to ambient air temps,but it sure does affect how fast a warm vehicle cools off to where it won't start again,lol. Take 2 days both at -40C/-40F one day with a windchill of -55C the other day with no windchill ,just an ambient air temp of -40,park a vehicle facing into the wind on the -55 windchill day,and compare how fast it cools off to not starting compared to the day with-out any windchill,lol

 

[Kenneth Maile]

I have found that changing the transfer case oil will help you, use the FAC recommended oil, also change the diff oils to 75-90 with friction additive. minus 30 here and have NOT had any problems, use 4 auto all the time in winter.

 

[Lyle Longboat]

I think I started something [emoji1787] or I should say @Lyle Longboat started something. Lol may need a forum wide poll to establish an answer [emoji1787]

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We don’t need another oil thread lol