Dodge Ram 1500 Hemi with open rear (non-posi or limited slip diff) can it be upgraded to a posi?
From : ms networking dude
Q: i am unaware of dodge ever putting an awd transfer case in a ram 1500. do you mean a 4wd either way it really shouldnt make any difference. since your truck should be using the pos dc 9 1/4 rear the limited slip unit is the same size as the open unit and will fit in the existing case and that is the good . the bad is that it is not all that easy to change it. -- if at first you dont succeed youre not cut out for skydiving i bought this loaded beauty recently but it doesnt have a posi the factory now calls it an anti-slip differential. i want to put a posi in it but ive heard mixed info on this. one person told me i cant just swap out the gears because the housing is different and the axles are slighty beefier so it would require a complete housing swap. someone else told me i can just swap out the guts or just go aftermarket. does anyone know the actual answer can i just swap out the diff or do i need to swap out the complete housing its an awd version with 3.92 gears and 20 wheels if that makes a difference. if you need any otehr info let me know. it sux that if ordered new the option is only $285.00. oh well... thanks ace this was cross-posted to alt.autos.dodge.truck -- scientists have discovered a reason why having sex could be bad for your health. the research reveals that hormones are the key to mating insects having a shorter life expectancy. http//.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2093562.stm .
Replies:
From : ms networking dude
tom r wrote i just bought a used 2003 dak quad cab.25000 miles. it pulled to the right when i test drove it dealer said he would align it still pulled to the right. i took it to another shop and they realigned it it still pulled the right so they checked it again and it still does it. it does not pull any worse when you apply the brakes it just takes a slight pressure on the steering wheel to keep it from running off the road on the right side. it even does it if you drive on the wrong side of the road where the crown of the road should make it pull slightly to the left. any ideas the last shop thought it might be a bad brake caliper the right side pad seems to be worn a little more than the left. i already checked/greased the caliper slide bolts. does anyone have any other suggestions i had the same pull to right problem on a brand new 2000 4x4 chev silverado.... had dealer realign truck with no improvement... at 3800 miles i swapped all 5 firestone p metric tires for 5 ltx-at michelin lt truck lr c tires of same size.... joy no more pull to right...... you might have to swap your tires around.... cheap way.... or buy better tires tia tom .
From : ms networking dude
ok ok you made your point i would rather spend a hundred bucks than deal with the stealership anyway. thanks again tom for cryin out loud................ both calipers plus both hoses will cost you around 80 bucks 24 and change each for the cals and about 16 each for the hoses throw in a good set of pads and youre still under $ 100 just do it fer chrissakes do you know if there is any recall or tsbs on the calipers or should i just go to napa or somewhere and buy them and replace them myself thanks for the quick answer. tom yeah replace both front calipers and both front hoses and get on with life i just bought a used 2003 dak quad cab.25000 miles. it pulled to the right when i test drove it dealer said he would align it still pulled to the right. i took it to another shop and they realigned it it still pulled the right so they checked it again and it still does it. it does not pull any worse when you apply the brakes it just takes a slight pressure on the steering wheel to keep it from running off the road on the right side. it even does it if you drive on the wrong side of the road where the crown of the road should make it pull slightly to the left. any ideas the last shop thought it might be a bad brake caliper the right side pad seems to be worn a little more than the left. i already checked/greased the caliper slide bolts. does anyone have any other suggestions tia tom .
From : kurt
on 6 jun 2005 123543 -0400 snoman uselinktoemail@autoforumz.com wrote rudyxhiebert wrote owners manuals and car dealer insist on 5000 miles or as in canada 8000 kms. or six months - whichever comes first. i had mine analyzed after using it for 13000 kms and seven months and the report showed that it was still ok. it really depends on how you define ok and what they are checking the oil for too. on the ones that i used to get the friend who worked for the oil distributer retired some of the things shown on the print out were viscosity contaminates and something that gave a percentage of original sample.. we used to change the synthetic when the percentage dropped below 90%... mac please remove splinters before emailing .
From : todd riegel
i have recently acquired a 1974 dodge k8w100 club cab pickup. its got the big 400 engine in it. four wheel drive with the old style lock-in hubs. it sat for about 3 years without being started. i went to go start it the other day and it wouldnt start. i know its getting spark and i know its getting gas i just dont know if its getting them both as needed. it actually backfired a couple of times the other day especially after we poured gas directly in to the carburetor trying to prime it. does anyone have any ideas as to what i can start checking. i mean i talked to a couple of people that said it could be as simple as changing out the timing chain but im not sure. -- message posted via carkb.com http//www.carkb.com/uwe/forums.aspx/dodge-truck/200506/1 .
From : kurt
i think its very unlikely that the lift pump would decide to shit the exact moment he decided to change the fuel filter. even if the lift pump did go out he would have most likely seen symptoms before now. the fact that the op put up two messages within one hour and then hasnt replied to any other posts since then leads me to believe that he got it running. that is when most find out that the lift pump is not working. when the lift pump fails the injector pump will pull the fuel and all appears okay. when you change the filter then it becomes real apparent the lift pump has gone south and your injector pump is right behind. roy .
From : ms networking dude
r sales@r.com wrote on sun 22 may 2005 181730 -0700 robert ball wrote you can save a bundle if you dont have a need for 4wd and buy 2wd. slight improvement on gas mileage too all other factors being equal. 4wd is a must have. for who me for one. learn to drive! i do know how to drive. have you ever tried to pull a loaded grain wagon out of the field in 2wd how about plowing snow thats laying on top of an inch of ice denny js .
From : tom lawrence
where is this campground im always looking for places to go on the motorcycle. bob - thanks for the reply. yes i do have many uses for a truck. i own a cottage and am partial owner in a campground that is over 125 years old. i do a lot of rehab work there most weekends in summer. i am also a woodworker and do need to cart lumber etc. my day job i do from home so i do not need it for a regular commute. my job does take me out of town a couple of times a month so i will need to occasionally drive to the airport in it. thats the only commute per se. i also have an 02 z71 suburban i can use for towing etc. im tired of putting 4x sheet goods in the back of it. although its nice to be able to shut the door of the sub after loading 15 sheets of 4x8 ply! the power door locks and windows are a nice to have i suspect on a quad cab. on the extendo cab of the chevy there are no back door windows or locks to deal with. i must have some type of extended cab as i may take the kiddies with me to the cottage or to lowes or what ever. so - do i get the 97 chevy with 150k miles for 7500 firm. or do i go with the 02 dodge quad cab with 25k miles for $16k. i figure ill get a lot more longevity and better gas mileage from the dodge. yet more power no payments and two years out of the chevy. the chevy may cost more per month for maintenance. hmm. payments newish truck or no payments and old beater actually in very nice shape considering age truck. tough one for me. does anyone have any watch out for the 02 dodge because they all had bla bla bla type problems i have more experience with chevy. the 97 would be my 4th chevy 87 s-10 blaser 93 k1500 blaser 02 z71 suburban. i have never owned a dodge anything. on sun 22 may 2005 174418 -0400 no no@email.com wrote ok - i am looking for a pickup. just for weekend use and occasional commutes to airport and as a second vehicle when my primary is unavailable. ok i was looking to spend as minimal of an amount as possible. i found this - a dodge 2002 1500 quad cab 4. engine 4wd 5 speed mt. 26k miles. $16000. more than i wanted to spend but a nice truck. before i saw this one i was looking at a chevy 1997 ext cab 4x4 154k miles for $7500. pros on chevy - price ext cab not quad cab automatic power locks. cons - high mileage. pros on dodge - only 25k miles. cons - steel wheels look ugly no power locks or windows price. hmmm - what to do i do not like payments and i do not have 16k cash. i do not have $7500 cash either but am closer depending what my 1995 contour sells for. anyone interested =========================== not at all interested in the contoiur...not even if you gave it to me... no offense....just have no use for such a vehicle... now this is a dodge truck group....and yes i own a little dodge dakota....but i am a chevy guy...always have been long story but in the late 50s and early 60s i discovered hot rodding a small block chevy was cheap and a lot easier easier then other brands..and i was young and only has 19 cents in my pocket... but back to your question... all boils down to what you want a truck for... weekend use tells me nothing...you building a home on the weekend hauling a big boat to the lake on the weekends trucks are not the best vehicle to commute in...not l as comfortable as a car..and the gas milage is usually sucks in relation to any econobox........ 2 major striks against a truck if you want to commute.. my truck is my primary vehicle... it works for my needs...i am retired but have 2 hobbies that i need the hauling ability of a truck...i toy around with old cars... so i have to be able to haul an engine home or a fender etc... and i build furniture in my shop.. so i need to haul 2-300 bf of waltut or cherry rough cut lumber... my hauling is pretty light duty...so my truck is a 2001 dodge dakota 6 cyl 5 speed... slow underpowered geared all wring but it gets the job done... if i did not have the money i would be looking at that chevy.. the engine should be good for another 50000 miles easy.. complete stock rebuild is possible for $2500 .. i personally could give a good you fill in the blanks about power locks or power windows... and unless i was hauling heavy loads i would prefer to row my own transmission... bob griffiths 64 & 72 corvette rag tops 76 79 & 95 corvette coupes 68 ss 396 chevelle 2001 dodge dakota wife runs a 96 dodge caravan 172000 miles with on it . .
From : tbone
is that even legal to hunt them -- if at first you dont succeed youre not cut out for skydiving had an aussie once that liked to *herd* cats...also small children and the neighbors guineas... just to be clear im not talking kitty-cats here. - http//7slotgrille.com/images/forumpics/mld.jpg montana is full of these bastards and i plan on thinning the litter. - running them with dogs makes the hunt extremely successful. -- nathan w. collier http//7slotgrille.com http//utilityoffroad.com .
From : tbone
also youre saying i wont need the carrier and pinion bearings no - youll use the carrier bearings. you wont use the pinion bearings. but its still easier and cheaper to buy the whole install kit even though you wont use some pieces than to try and piece together what you need individually. is there an lsd for the front or should i just leave that alone unless youre going full-time off-road rock crawling leave it alone. going all the time. what bugs me is whats the difference between awd and 4hi which are the selectable options on the dash 4hi locks the front and rear driveshafts together which means something has to slip when making a turn that being the tires traction to the ground. awd allows the front and rear driveshafts to turn at different speeds using something very similar to the differential in question here just as your rear differential allows your rear axles to turn at different rates. .
From : ms networking dude
tbone wrote i think that the guy at the dodge dealer was lying because he didnt want to or was unable to swap the two units. actually what i said was that is not all that easy. now dont get me wrong it is not impossible but you need to be careful. removing the old one is the easy part. it is really just a matter of pulling the axles out which is no big deal and then 4 bolts later you have the carrier in your hands but that is where the easy part ends. putting the new one in can be a real pita. as suggested by others i would replace the carrier bearings with high quality after market ones because the ones dc uses suck!!!! the new carrier will not come with them so they will need to be ordered anyway so you might as well use good ones. they will also need to be pressed on and you will have to be careful when doing that. it will also not come with a ring gear or exciter ring and these will have to be removed from the old one as im sure that you expected and sometimes they come off easy but other times... you will also need to order new ring gear bolts. the hard part come when you put the new assembly back in. if the ring is not aligned properly with the pinion it is going to howl and will soon fail. you also have to set the carrier preload and backlash correctly and this is also part of the ring / pinion alignment. if you have not done this before it can be tricky and time consuming and will require a threaded adjuster tool a dial indicator with mount and gear pattern compound. you really cant even put the carrier back into the housing with out the threaded adjuster tool. if you really want to do this i would suggest calling one of the rear end companies and talk to them about what you will need and what is involved. i would also suggest using an aftermarket carrier such as an auburn unit since it is simply a better design. http//www.peytonperformance.com/item--auburn-542070--542070.html remember that if you do this work yourself it may void the warranty on the rear axle. thanks tbone for the very informative post. i think ill get the auburn diff and have the dealer install it. this way it wont void the warranty and theyll be responsible for it. i know it will be a couple extra bucks but with whats involved i think ill let them do it. besides its been many years since i had a diff apart and and this point i would rather not do it. i put my detroit locker in and had another guy helping who did one before and i remember that wasnt easy. they were the days when i had time to do that kind of stuff. i dont have all the tools needed anymore anyway. i know what you mean. that auburn diff looks like a nice piece. i think so as well and have heard good things about it. just to make sure if i go with the auburn ill also need to get a ring a pinion set along aftermarket bearings. what brand do you recommend for these you can and should use the ring gear and exciter ring from the factory unit no need to buy a new set. what you should do is order a new set of ring gear bolts. they may come in the master install kit that tom mentioned but if not make sure that you get them separately. tom also mentioned a rebuild where half of the ring gear bolts snapped and reusing the old ones can cause that type of failure. as for the bearings timken makes a good bearing. if you order a master install kit see if they have options as to what bearings they use and go with the best whatever they recomend. if they are selling an auburn rear they will probably be selling a quality install kit with good bearings as well. thanks! youre welcome and good luck. -- if at first you dont succeed youre not cut out for skydiving .
From : tom lawrence
i know its not a truck but people here seem to be helpful i drove my wifes 99 town and country today and i noticed the sound of water sloshing around when i stopped. noticed the carpet is wet where the firewall and floor meet. pulled the plate up under the door and i could see water down in the rail under the door. how can that fill up with water and if it happens a lot why doesnt it drain out. is there a drain plug someplace i didnt look yet because my drive way is wet from the rain. willy .
From : ms networking dude
tbone wrote yep! why because we are using less and the price is coming down. at least i have these two facts to back up my theory. what about you oh thats right your only theory is that im wrong lol! oil prices have dropped causing gas prices to drop. its mainly because of higher supply now lower demand. oil production has gone up and in the usa idle refineries were brought back online. the slight dip in usa demand has only a small effect not the main effect you wish to believe. despite the sudden rise in chinas demand for oil we are still far and away the biggest user. now unless china has made a sudden turn around and is no longer using as much oil where do you think any significant reduction in usage oil production has been steadily increasing as has refinery capabilities. demand has not dropped anywheres near the same % that oil prices have dropped. .
From : ms networking dude
..bob wrote snip i agree it really is just that easy. as a side note. the dodge 9 1/4 rear is pretty famous for eating carrier bearings at about 60-80k miles. if you plan on driving the truck that long have a better aftermarket bearing installed at the same time. thanks bob. great info. glad to know i dont have to get the whole housing. i think ill go with the auburn unit instead of the factory unit and get the dealer to install it. ace .
From : tbone
oh sweet! let me know something save me a trip to the local napa. well look what i found... http//home.earthlink.net/tlawrence53/vacuumlines.jpg shoot me your mailing address in an e-mail and ill get this on its way to you monday. tell me more with as many details as possible about this conversion id like to do the same thing if i end up keeping the truck. pretty simple - whiteys 4x4 posi-lok. it replaces the vacuum motor on the cad with a cable-actuated shifter. you mount the cable/handle inside the cab and you can control when the front axle is locked. the really nice benefit is it allows you to engage the transfer cases low range but leave the front axle unlocked giving you 2wd-low great for backing up trailers because you can make sharp turns on hard pavement since the front axle isnt engaged. it runs about $200 and takes about 30 minutes to install. .
From : ms networking dude
on sat 21 may 2005 222919 -0500 joseph myers joemyers@ev1.net wrote the first thing i would have done was stop and drain some fuel out of the filter and watch for moisture then i would change out the filter element with the spare i always carry. if that didnt fix it then i would suspect the lift pump. install a supply fp gauge on the outlet from fuel filter. lift pump is easy to change you can do it from the top if you have long arms. i did mine from the bottom takes a little longer cause you have to remove the starter first. bought a load of fresh fuel this morning from a station where ive been fueling for the last three years. there was about 1/4 tank of the bad stuff left. changed the fuel filter. truck is now running like a champ! shift points are back up to 3100 rpm under heavy acceleration without missing a beat. couple of heartstopping moments during the filter change though. when i took the canister off the old filter top section stayed on the truck. i looked at what i had in my hand just the round filter section without the top flange section and thought to myself crap! they sold me the wrong filter. got that straightened out when i started looking for the large gasket from the old filter. then i didnt run the lift pump by cycling the key enough times to re-prime the system. had to crank about 25 seconds before it started. so thanks for the comments guys. pays to replace the cheap parts first. fwiw i also carry a spare filter but i figured id run the truck a while to get rid of the bad fuel before i changed the filter. otherwise id be changing it again after a tank. just glad i wasnt dragging the fiver this trip. greg 98 3500 qc 4x2 cummins isb auto 3.541 driftwood with leather and all the heavy duty options. 89 nu-wa champagne edition 34 foot fifth wheel. .
From : nathan w collier
collins & aikman products corp. former ceo of the company david a. stockman has quit his postion and given a tidy 20 million dollar going away present for his gallant efforts to ruin the company. shortly after his retirement the company is forced to file bankruptcy and now is on the verge of bringing the automotive industry to a grinding halt !! collins & aikman owes millions of dollars to small suppliers who can scarcely operate in this political environment and now the automotive supplier giant is taking them to the cleaners in bankruptcy !! previous ceo jerry mosingo was similarly retired several years ago and was promised payments on his retirement...... when these never came he also filed suit against the corporate giant. we here in the uaw would like to ask our fellow workers to petition their congressman for an investigation into stockmans financial affairs and those of his wife jennifer who is the nation co-chairman for the republican majority for choice. and also a blackstone partner former owners of collins & aikman !! stockman lives on an 11 million dollar estate on conyers farm road in greenwich connecticut. we in the uaw believe that stockman has falsely represented his company and has dishonored his alliance with the uaw and should be made to forfit any bonus earnings while ceo. remember ..... the job you save could be your own !!! .
From : tbone
on sat 21 may 2005 223839 gmt greg surratt glsurratt@verizon.net wrote need some help diagnosing a problem on my 98 3500 with cummins 24 valve/auto/3.54 rears. i just made a three day trip from virginia to massachusetts and back. the trip up was outstanding - 20 mpg at 65 mph. the trip back was somewhat less fun. during all of the following all dash indications oil temp etc were normal. the water in fuel light never came on. oil and water levels are good no discoloration in either of them after 550 miles. i fueled up at a pilot truck stop at exit 1 on i-84 in massachusetts for the trip back. about 30 miles later the truck was missing if i tried to accelerate above about 70 mph and while cruising on some of the hills in north central connecticut. the transmission couldnt figure out where it need to be when this happened. if it were a v-8 gasser id guess it was not firing on about three cylinders but this is a cummins. after 150 miles i stopped to eat and when i pulled back on the freeway i had heavy white smoke under acceleration until i got up to speed missing above 2000 rpm and the same confused transmission. cruise at 65 mph 1800 rpm was normal. after about 350 miles the problems with the smoke disappeared but i still have the missing at above 2500 rpm. and if i drop down out of overdrive and punch it it is worse. right now the truck appears to be running normal with good power and acceleration until it hits 2500 rpm in any gear. no codes on the dash - does the cummins use the check engine light im hoping i just got a load of bad fuel and ill change the fuel filter tomorrow and see if the problems go away. that would explain the missing at high rpm - fuel starvation. but what would have caused the white smoke id appreciate any comments before i take it to the dealer. greg 98 3500 qc 4x2 cummins isb auto 3.541 driftwood with leather and all the heavy duty options. 89 nu-wa champagne edition 34 foot fifth wheel. lift pump .
From : ms networking dude
miles nospam@noemail.com wrote tbone wrote yes it is a stop-gap measure but not for cars. oil is used for far more than just gasoline. alaskan oil is not sweet crude. iow it is kinda worthless. only sweet crude thats used for gasoline is worth anything incidentally alaska north slope ans crude is priced on the world market and sells for about $3 a barrel less than the average. it hit a peak of something like $55 a barrel a short time back and as with other oil is now significantly less. i dont remember what is was yesterday but something like $42 a barrel. not that alaskans are hung up on oil mind you... but the anchorage daily prints a graph in the paper every day showing the current price and the price over the past several months. it indicates the peak price and there is also a straight line across the graph marked as the price required for the states current budget to break even. we arent all hung up on oil but our legislature certainly are. ans is indeed not sweet crude however virtually all of the gasoline and diesel/jet fuel produced in alaska which is a significant amount of jet fuel comes from ans. and the majority of all gasoline sold on the west coast probably 100% in states other than california is refined from ans. -- floyd l. davidson http//web.guy.com/floyddavidson ukpeagvik barrow alaska floyd@barrow.com .
From : ms networking dude
..bob wrote the ram uses the same corporate 9. rear that my dakota has. no big deal. limited slip differential lsd is a factory option and has been just about forever. adding lsd is a pretty simple operation for a competent diff shop. if youre using it mostly for street snow boat ramps fire roads etc the lsd will be your best choice. if you do serious off roading and never see snow/ice covered roadways you should consider something stronger. so it is the exact same interesting. one guy at the dealer was the one that told me the whole housing needs to be changed due to the axles being different etc. now if thats not really needed ill just order it from parts and have it swapped out. no serious off roading. if i was going to do that i think i would have gone for the power wagon i think thats their beefy off-road truck. i just wanted the limited slip for snow/ice etc driving maybe even putting a plow on it. i used to snow plow years ago for a company i worked for. the truck had a limited slip in it and never got stuck once. funny i did get stuck once with another truck while plowing. it was my own fault. i rammed a snow pile trying to shave the pile and move it but i went too fast and wound up on top of the pile with all 4 wheels in the air. lol. i wish i had a pic of that. luckily i had a winch on that thing and pulled it out. so youre saying its that easy tbone in his response says that same thing. ace .