Anyone who can help i appreciate it. My issue lies with the rear differential. My truck is a 99 Ram 1500 4x4 5.2L. Im running 35/10.50-15 BFG M/T. Ive been taking it out laely and giving it some abuse since i just installed a lift kit on it. One day i heard a grinding/binding noise and backed up and then forward and it stopped. Next day i pulled out on the highway and the metal to metal noise started again. Then it stopped moving so i pulled off. Drive shaft just spins and makes squeeling noises and the truck goes nowhere. Im thinking maybe the pinion is demolished. Havent taken the diff cover off to see yet but im sure its not going to look good in there. I limped it home in 4x4 since i couldnt drop the drive shaft or else fluid would go everywhere and didnt want the t-case to go out too. Now i guess im looking into getting either new guts for it or maybe a entire axle from somewhere. What models and years of axles are the same? Am i limited to the 2nd gen axles only?

 

Take the cover off, and see what ya got. Take it from there. It might be a fairly simple fix. (but, don't hold your breath on that.) Don't spend any money until you know what you actually need. Not like you can drive the truck as it is anyway.......

 

cheapest fix would be to look on your local craigslist for a parts truck and pull the whole rear axle, any 94-01 ram will work (4x4 and 2wd) its the same 9.25 Chrysler rear end. just make sure you find a axle with the correct gears.

i can find them around here for about $200-300 and usualy they only have about 80k miles on them, you might get lucky and find one with less

 

yea ive been looking on the craigslist. found one the guy wants $600 for a 01 with 3.55 gears and 60k miles. dont have any tools with me to take it off yet. i just moved up to Alaska with the military. back home i know i could get one pretty cheap, but up here prices are crazy.

 

If your running 35's offroad that much, then you should probably be looking to upgrade your rear end. If it was me I would look to swap in a dana 60 or 70 and gear it properly for those tires. Otherwise your just going to end up with the same problem again. Upgrade while you have the chance.

 

The 9.25 is plenty strong for 35's. I've seen people running 40" + with no problems. As far as axle strength is concerned the 9.25 is just as strong as the Dana 60. IMO the only thing the 60 has better is no c clips and you can buy a selectable locker for it.

 

well took her apart today. the upper and lower spider gears are in pieces along with the shims. the shims behind the left and right gears are kindove banged up. ring and pinion look scotch free. its better than i expected. anyone know how to go about replacing spider gears? are the shims just place and go or do they need to be miked? is it possible to replace them without removing the carrier?

 

Completeoffroad.com sells the spider gears.

 

You might be able to replace them without pulling anything...... but, doesn't look like there is a lot of room with the ring gear there...... Replace all four of the spiders, and shims, (they come as a kit from some places.... including the shims.) I think the shims act more as a 'bearing surface' than anything needs needs a specific spec.

 

Would it not be cheaper and safer in the long run to just completely replace the carrier with a new one? Not saying you have to put a locker or anything in there, but I think I would consider upgrading while You have that far apart. You won't even have to mess with the pinion just the ring gear and the axles come out easily with the C clips. That about there only good use!