Rear differential service, chunks of metal found

[JURO]

opened up my Rear differential for service, drained the oil , & found chunks of metal.

most of these are size of coins of the $0.25 variety, & flat.

what gives?

 

[GTyankee]

You are not going to want to hear any ones answer $$$$$

available engines for 2001 were
3.9 L V6,
5.2 L V8,
5.9 L V8,
5.9 L I6 Cummins turbo diesel.
they also had a 488 cubic inch 8.0L V10 engine

They did not have a 5.0

Is it a 2 or 4 wheel drive ?

The engine size may determine the rear axle ratio

On the differential cover, there should be 12 bolts
On 1 of those bolts, there may be a metal tag, if it is still there, the numbers indicate the axle ratio

common rear differentials are
3:21 to 1
3:55 to 1
3:92 to 1
4:11 to 1

The rear differentials come on two types :
OPEN & Limited Slip

Good Luck !

 

[JURO]

figured it out. all the gear teeth look good.
two of the clutch pack discs are broken. replace?
from the service manual:
Replace both clutch packs if any one component in either pack is damaged.

from the service manual:
Do not use water, steam, kerosene or gasoline for cleaning.
why not gasoline?

 

[Units]

Maybe the additives that are in gasoline, idk. Anytime it’s gunked up an greasy I use brake parts cleaner, dries quick and leaves no residue.

 

[CanuckRam1313]

Yes, take it all apart, thoroughly clean everything, and replace everything with quality clutch packs (all of em), and double check the mesh on the gears to make sure everything is all aligned up nicely.

You'll also need to replenish the special additive for the limited slip diffs.

Use a high quality and proper weight diff fluid, and then add in the MOPAR limited slip diff additive, too, in the appropriate amount required for the volume of new fluid you need to put in.

 

[JURO]

My diff is thee type 9 1/4 Inch axle.

 

[GTyankee]

All Dodge Ram 1500 & Ram 1500s used the 9.25 inch or 235 mm differentials

Up until the 2011 RAM production, differentials for the 9.25" rear differential, were made by A.A.M. American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

2500 Dodge Ram & Ram use 10.5 " & 11.5 inch differentials

Did you find a metal tag on any of the differential cover bolts ?

If not, look at the Ring Gear .......

How Can I Tell My Gear Ratio? #AskDuke 001

I was wondering if there was a way to determine what gear ratio you have in your differential without opening up the diff cover?FOLLOW CHRIS:https://www.inst...

www.youtube.com

You may or may not need to know the gear ratio

 

[JURO]

ok but is my diff a limited slip diff?
never found a find a metal tag on any of the diff cover bolts.
been shopping around, all i can find is full clutch packs,
why do i need to replace both entire clutch packs even if just one disc is bad?

 

[CanuckRam1313]

ok but is my diff a limited slip diff?
never found a find a metal tag on any of the diff cover bolts.
been shopping around, all i can find is full clutch packs,
why do i need to replace both entire clutch packs even if just one disc is bad?

If you have clutch packs, it's a limited slip rear diff.

The clutch packs wear out over time. To just install a fresh new one and maintain an old existing one in the same diff could cause issues in the diffs ability to control/regulate its LSD characteristics.

Not to mention one clutch pack blew apart so there is debris in the diff and that too has potential to affect the other clutch pack.

Same premise one would use if one shock was blown, one would replace both, not just one.

Do it right the first time and you'll not have to worry about it later.

 

[JURO]

guys at Autozone were no help

 

[turkeybird56]

See post 5 and 9, not the ahem auto experts at Autozone, IMHO...

 

[DodgeDude99]

This is what you need.

Dana 44 And Chrysler 9.25" Traclloc Clutch Kit replacement | YPKD44-PC-T/L | RANDYS Worldwide

YPKD44-PC-T/L - Dana 44 And Chrysler 9.25 Traclloc Clutch Kit replacement

www.randysworldwide.com

Add the bottle of friction modifier like previously posted before you fill with lube.

 

[DodgeDude99]

All Dodge Ram 1500 & Ram 1500s used the 9.25 inch or 235 mm differentials

Up until the 2011 RAM production, differentials for the 9.25" rear differential, were made by A.A.M. American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

2500 Dodge Ram & Ram use 10.5 " & 11.5 inch differentials

Did you find a metal tag on any of the differential cover bolts ?

If not, look at the Ring Gear .......

How Can I Tell My Gear Ratio? #AskDuke 001

I was wondering if there was a way to determine what gear ratio you have in your differential without opening up the diff cover?FOLLOW CHRIS:https://www.inst...

www.youtube.com

You may or may not need to know the gear ratio

FYI, the early 2nd gens had a light duty 2500 that had 8 lug versions of the Dana 44 from & 9.25” rear like the 1/2 tons.

 

[JURO]

today i re-assembled the diff.

it was hard job, but i learned so much. wonder if i should have gone all the way, & replace the two main bearings?

 

[JURO]

All Dodge Ram 1500 & Ram 1500s used the 9.25 inch or 235 mm differentials

Up until the 2011 RAM production, differentials for the 9.25" rear differential, were made by A.A.M. American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.

2500 Dodge Ram & Ram use 10.5 " & 11.5 inch differentials

Did you find a metal tag on any of the differential cover bolts ?

If not, look at the Ring Gear .......

How Can I Tell My Gear Ratio? #AskDuke 001

I was wondering if there was a way to determine what gear ratio you have in your differential without opening up the diff cover?FOLLOW CHRIS:https://www.inst...

www.youtube.com

You may or may not need to know the gear ratio

yes there is a metal tag stamped " 3.9"

what does that mean?

 

[jr27236]

You did the job yourself? I just had my pinion and carrier bearings replaced because the race on the pinion pitted up real bad. Got clobbered over the head with the cash register at the completion of the repair. I did the outer shaft bearings/seals myself (I used Timken brand). The mechanic used all Mopar brand bearings and all.

 

[GTyankee]

Until someone with more knowledge than i have, comments on the differential tag

3.9 imprinted on a rear differential tag, might possibly stand for
3.92 ratio
-----------------------------------------------------
GOOGLE ANSWERS


on the 2001 dodge Ram
there are also 2 other areas, where you may find your differential ratio
1 ) is on a sticker under the hood
2 ) is somewhere in the glove compartment
3 ) Look on the front inside passenger side of the axle housing and see if yours is still there. ( that is a long shot )

another note:

On '00 and up they're usually on the option tag/spec decal inside the glove-box. Older models usually have them on the same tag on the underside of the hood. If it's under the hood a 3:55 will show as a axle 3.5, 99% of either have them on a tag located on a small tab bolted to/through the differential cover both front and/or back.

If you have to go to the extreme of removing the diff cover it's stamped into the ring gear.

If for some reason it isn't there count the ring gears and the axle gears and divide the larger number into the smaller number.

........................................................................

They did use the TRU-TRAC rear differential on some Rams back in that time period

 

[JURO]

You did the job yourself? I just had my pinion and carrier bearings replaced because the race on the pinion pitted up real bad. Got clobbered over the head with the cash register at the completion of the repair. I did the outer shaft bearings/seals myself (I used Timken brand). The mechanic used all Mopar brand bearings and all.

yes i did it myself, but i did not replace the bearings, just opened up the diff case & took apart the gears, & put it back together.
maybe i'll do it after i finish the engine rebuild.

How much did it cost u?

also replaced the outer axle bearings & seals.

 

[JURO]

opened up the front diff today, it had a much more detailed tag, starts off w/ 3.92 space bunch of other info.

from the manual:
The 216 axle have the assembly part number and gear ratio listed on a tag. The tag is attached to the
housing cover by one of the cover bolts. Build date identification codes are stamped on the cover side of
a axle tube.

The 248 FBI axle have the assembly part number and gear ratio listed on a tag. The tag is attached to
the housing cover by one of the cover bolts. Build date identification codes are stamped on the cover
side of a axle tube.

 

[jr27236]

yes i did it myself, but i did not replace the bearings, just opened up the diff case & took apart the gears, & put it back together.
maybe i'll do it after i finish the engine rebuild.

How much did it cost u?

also replaced the outer axle bearings & seals.

$2k