I've got a 96 ram 1500 with 32's right now. I want to go bigger and am looking at a lift and probably 38ish tires. I know I will need to change gearing, even with the 32's it can feel slugish. My question is what are the differences between 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton axles. Will they bolt in place of each other fine? Also did the 3/4 or 1 tons come with ratios more suited to my tire size? I know I will have to change gears and am thinking that thismight be the right time to change axles because I've heard the 1/2 ton ones aren't strong enough for the big tires.

Thanks,
Adam

 

Well cheif in my opinion your gonna need either 4:10s or 4:56s.
You can get 4:10 out from a stock axle I think , but to go for the 4:56s you'll have to
buy and install them. As for trading 3/4 , 1 ton axle under a 1/2 ton I really don't know.
Anything is possible with enuff beer and man power.

 

I think the 3/4 and 1 ton leaf springs are wider by a 1/4" or something like that... Not sure about the front...

Cartman

 

I have done some pretty extensive resaerch into finding someone who makes upgraded axle shafts for the front d44 axle that you and I both have. I already have 4.56 gears front and rear and am driving on 35x12.50 M/Ts and the gearing is on the low side right now, but I installed those gears knowing full well the 35 inch tires were on the way out. I am now adding 5" to the suspension lift for a grand daddy total of 11" of lift and 39.50x15 tires. I have found mosier engineering will sell you a complete set of axle shafts and bad *** u joints already installed for 700 bucks shipped to your door. These are about 40% stronger than stock and have one huge advantage, the are machined for full snap rings on the needle bearing caps. This is the area that causes carnage most often, the half *** clip comes off the needle bearing cap, and the expsed cross of the u joint breaks the ears. I am talking also to another compant about custom machining axle shafts that would accept ctm or ox joints with extra material in the yoke area but we are having issues setting up the mill for the 19 spline axle coupler on the pass side. I have measured things out and also know that a d60 axle out of a gen 2 (94-01) 2500 will bolt right in to our 1500 rams, the only problem is the cheapest I have been able to find one is about 2grand, and I would have to start over with ringand pinion. I have talked to alot of people and feel confident with after market shafts, strong u joints( not factory junk) and a good bit of common sense you can wheel your 1500 on 38s with your d44

 

thanks for the info, I might just look at getting the gears then until I break something and then upgrading axle shafts. Any other input, my uncle can probably get me 3/4 or 1 ton axles for cheap.