Buying a new 2500, advice please...
From : big al
Q: im about to buy an 04 dodge 600 diesel 6 speed 4x4. im getting 3.73 gears and anti-spin. tow package tow mirrors and most of the creature comforts. any advice would be appreciated. one of my concerns is about the front axle not having a disconnect. does anyone have any idea about the front axle on the 05 al .
Replies:
From : maccheeta
i read this at allpar www.allpar.com/model/ram/index.htm and www.allpar.com/axlemodel/ram/faq.html . a number of pickups appear to be having axle failures - we believe around one in ten sold. the basic axle design seems to be sound but there are problems around components redesigned at the orders of a chrysler executive who is no longer there. a redesign is expected with the next generation of ram trucks in 2006 or so; in the meantime failures appear to be dealt with on a case by case basis. since this is a known problem owners who encounter axle failure should press chrysler for no-cost or subsidized replacement even if they are a reasonable time out of the warranty period. the redesigned axle will apparently not be completely interchangeable with the current version. all new rams use a central axle disconnect cad system to disconnect the front driveline when in 2wd instead of the more traditional hubs. the system consists of a dog clutch that slides over to connect the two halves of the passenger side front axle when engaged. some wheel movement may be required to get both halves to align. owners who purchase a 4wd truck for winter use only should keep in mind that the vacuum diaphragm that engages the dog clutch needs to used every month or so to keep it pliable. this also allows the transfer case to be lubricated. in other words if you have 4wd find a nice dirt road and use it!! dana 80 application 2500 hd 2500 hd 4x4 8.0l v10 and diesel w/manual transmission. capacity 7500 lbs type full-floating ratios 3.54 4.10 ring gear diameter 11.0 ring gear face width n/a pinion mounting overhung pinion shaft diameter 1.75 inner 1.25 outer differential pinions two axle shaft material induction hardened diameter at bearing none axle spline pitch 1.375 spring centers 43.26 fluid capacity 2/4wd 6.8/10.1 pints wheel bearings tapered roller i guess that the dana 80 must not be a problem because its not a chrysler engineered product im looking to eventually replace a 4x4 dakota w/ a 2500 and not have any more issues w/ axles.is the front axle also a dana big al wrote im about to buy an 04 dodge 600 diesel 6 speed 4x4. im getting 3.73 gears and anti-spin. tow package tow mirrors and most of the creature comforts. any advice would be appreciated. one of my concerns is about the front axle not having a disconnect. does anyone have any idea about the front axle on the 05 al .
From : tom lawrence
i guess that the dana 80 must not be a problem because its not a chrysler engineered product im looking to eventually replace a 4x4 dakota w/ a 2500 and not have any more issues w/ axles.is the front axle also a dana okay... first of all the cad system was used in 2500/3500 rams from 94 to 02 and on 1500s from 94 to 01. the newer trucks use no such system - the front axle turns all the time. secondly - the dana 80 was used on 2500s/3500s from 94 to 02 in some configurations 2500s with v10 or ctd and 5/6spd trans or 3500s with v10 or ctd and any trans all got dana 80 but only as a rear axle. all 2500s/3500s used a dana 60 up front in those years. starting in 03 the 2500/3500s use an aam 9.25 front axle and either an aam 10.5 or aam 11.5 rear axle depending on configuration. .
From : tom lawrence
one of my concerns is about the front axle not having a disconnect. does anyone have any idea about the front axle on the 05 no but i wouldnt expect it to change. guys with 03 and 04 ctds are routinely getting between 16 and 19mpg on them higher if its all highway driving at a reasonable sub-75mph speed so i wouldnt worry about the extra drag of the non-disconnected axle. look on the bright side - no vacuum lines to catch on a tree stump and rip off and your differential will always be lubricated. also because of this elimination theres no need for the ctds to have any vacuum source so they were able to do away with the vacuum pump which was a minor problem source on the older trucks with fluid leaks. .
From : big al
one of my concerns is about the front axle not having a disconnect. does anyone have any idea about the front axle on the 05 no but i wouldnt expect it to change. guys with 03 and 04 ctds are routinely getting between 16 and 19mpg on them higher if its all highway driving at a reasonable sub-75mph speed so i wouldnt worry about the extra drag of the non-disconnected axle. look on the bright side - no vacuum lines to catch on a tree stump and rip off and your differential will always be lubricated. also because of this elimination theres no need for the ctds to have any vacuum source so they were able to do away with the vacuum pump which was a minor problem source on the older trucks with fluid leaks. bright side most of us use four wheel drive what 1% of the time. dragging the front axle and drive shaft around 99% of the time for nothing just does not seem smart. my present 4x4 dodge has the vacuum disconnect. it still spins both front axles and the differential unit. guess its not all that different. and you can go from 2 hi to 4 hi at any speed as far as i can determine only ford has unlocking hubs chevy uses the vacuum disconnect. i hear chevy is having all kinds of problems with their aam hd front axles. pinion and carrier bearing problems$$ i looked at chevy and ford trucks. my last two trucks were both dodges and they seem to have tough drive lines. wish i could say that about the cab and bed. im not sold on the new ford diesel and cant find a manual 4x4 chevy or gmc anywhere. have to go 1500 miles to get the dodge al .
From : mac davis
on 03 may 2004 040239 gmt spweiler767@aol.com spweiler767 wrote get the gmc out puls the heck out of my cummins right... if the tow truck is a big one.. even the die-hard chevy guys in the 4x4 group suggest dodge or ford if you want a td.. that way it has a chance of running for a while.. mac .
From : spweiler767
get the gmc out puls the heck out of my cummins .
From : thewanderer
not with the new cummings 600 get the gmc out puls the heck out of my cummins .
From : big al
on 03 may 2004 040239 gmt spweiler767@aol.com spweiler767 wrote get the gmc out puls the heck out of my cummins right... if the tow truck is a big one.. even the die-hard chevy guys in the 4x4 group suggest dodge or ford if you want a td.. that way it has a chance of running for a while.. is there a web site or group where the new trucks are discussed its so hard to compare trucks with so many obscure differences. then you have the guys that want to bash everything except what theyre stuck with. al .
From : mac davis
on tue 4 may 2004 093840 -0700 big al nospamsal1@qwest.net wrote on 03 may 2004 040239 gmt spweiler767@aol.com spweiler767 wrote get the gmc out puls the heck out of my cummins right... if the tow truck is a big one.. even the die-hard chevy guys in the 4x4 group suggest dodge or ford if you want a td.. that way it has a chance of running for a while.. is there a web site or group where the new trucks are discussed its so hard to compare trucks with so many obscure differences. then you have the guys that want to bash everything except what theyre stuck with. al i havent seen one al... most are like this one a mix of new and old trucks.. mac .
From : mark wilson
go to www.tstproducts.com and join the forum discussion. all about current dodge/cummins trucks. on tue 4 may 2004 093840 -0700 big al nospamsal1@qwest.net wrote on 03 may 2004 040239 gmt spweiler767@aol.com spweiler767 wrote get the gmc out puls the heck out of my cummins right... if the tow truck is a big one.. even the die-hard chevy guys in the 4x4 group suggest dodge or ford if you want a td.. that way it has a chance of running for a while.. is there a web site or group where the new trucks are discussed its so hard to compare trucks with so many obscure differences. then you have the guys that want to bash everything except what theyre stuck with. al i havent seen one al... most are like this one a mix of new and old trucks.. mac .