CV Tripod bearing mystery

[Dieselhorses]

Hi everyone,
Been hanging around here reading mostly but I thought I would share this to maybe get some "gearhead" advice about an issue I had with my 2019 Ram Classic Tradesman quad cab/5.7.

Stay with me on this:

Purchased truck November 30, 2019 (manufactured in October 2019). Had 15 miles on it when I picked it up. This truck marketed as a 2019. Anyway I did a few mods (tailgate assist, step bars, visors) and then I installed a leveling kit (had some so called "trusted" friends do it). Truck ran fine, drove just like it did from factory. A few days after install, cv grease slinging under passenger side coming from inner boot. Of course I almost had heart failure but I decided to just get a Mopar boot with clamps and change myself.

Started yesterday. After I pulled axle I noticed a section of the large clamp was damaged (bent in a tad) hence this was where grease was escaping. I cut both clamps, slid boot back from tripod end, slid bearing assembly out and noticed pins were dislodged from one of the bearings-my heart came closer to failing! If you have never examined this type of set up, then stop reading.

I have ordered another complete axle (OEM) but my biggest question is, is how on Earth could this bearing have just fell apart? I cleaned the entire tripod assembly up and there is no retainer clips on any of the three. Almost like they were pressed on the pinions. My other question is can I purchase JUST this bearing assembly as I could rebuild this axle and have an extra on hand. Ultimately this looks like a defect considering I have 4K miles on truck and have never "dogged" it! Lastly I wonder if there is an axle out there that utilized the "ball" bearings instead of needles?

 

[crazykid1994]

Any pictures of the leveling kit. Wonder if the cv got overextended.

 

[Dieselhorses]

It's a Motofab 2.5" kit. Looked at axle on drivers side and its basically almost horizontal.

 

[crazykid1994]

I’m honestly amused the needles are missing. Any signs of them? Also the bearing race doesn’t look like it has any damage even though the cv is always turning. Could have been when they installed the leveling kit but doubtful. And if you’re running spacers at 2.5” usually the cv shaft isn’t horizontal. I’m at 2.5” lift but it’s a strut lift and my cv is angled up slightly towards the center.

 

[Dieselhorses]

Oh yea I salvaged most of them. But no axles aren’t angled that much at all. I heard a strut lift was better but only because it doesn’t limit travel? Even the geometry of upper bj’s isn’t that much different than before. I did find one pin that was broke in half. I’ll send pics of how it’s situated when I install new axle shaft.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[crazykid1994]

Spacer pushes your entire range of travel down which can overextend your upper control arm. A strut lift reuses factory specs but readjust the spring to accommodate lift which keeps the factory down travel the same so it cannot overextend the ball joint. If you replace the upper control arm with something either a ready lift or better that has a readjusted ball joint cup it greatly reduces your chance or ball joint failure

 

[Dieselhorses]

Spacer pushes your entire range of travel down which can overextend your upper control arm. A strut lift reuses factory specs but readjust the spring to accommodate lift which keeps the factory down travel the same so it cannot overextend the ball joint. If you replace the upper control arm with something either a ready lift or better that has a readjusted ball joint cup it greatly reduces your chance or ball joint failure

Makes a lot of sense. Either way-Ready lift or spacers you are still increasing distance the same way. I'm fixing to invest a few thousand into the lift I really want and do away with the cosmetic stuff.

 

[Dieselhorses]

Found out today what happened. Evidently when the so-called "trusted friends" I can't trust anymore. They said they had a problem with that side of the truck and given the damage on the clamp at big end of boot, one of the bearings on assembly came out of bucket and when they tried to put back they forced it. Despite this my mind is at ease. Never again. I'm not even going to trust the dealers.

 

[chrisbh17]

Found out today what happened. Evidently when the so-called "trusted friends" I can't trust anymore. They said they had a problem with that side of the truck and given the damage on the clamp at big end of boot, one of the bearings on assembly came out of bucket and when they tried to put back they forced it. Despite this my mind is at ease. Never again. I'm not even going to trust the dealers.

"If it aint broke, fix it until it is"

or

"If it aint broke, try a bigger hammer"

I think they prescribe to the latter.

 

[crazykid1994]

Wow. What the heck man. That sucks ass. I had a feeling it may have been but thought otherwise. Hopefully you get it taken care of and working again

 

[Dieselhorses]

Thanks I will. Torture waiting for axle to arrive!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dieselhorses]

Everything back together, torque everything, runs fine. Installed another circlip on transaxle locked in fine. About an inch away from differential on passenger side but driver side axle in closer. Is this normal? I tried sliding driver side axle out/in seemed like it was locked.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk