Hey, gat an 02 Ram 1500 quadcab 4x4 5.9 auto. Am experiencing a low pitch whine and a bad vibration or shudder from the rear when accelerating from a stop or very low speed while turning only. I originally thought it might be a trans issue, even started a thread about it. But now that it's hotter outside i notice it more often...apparently only happens after parts get warmed up. But now that it happens alot more and i can tell it's not coming from the trans but the rear. The fact that it only does it when i'm turning (different wheel speeds being applied to the drive wheels) only proves my theory. If i accelerate straight out, it doesn't do it. Also, last time i had it on jacks, i would turn one rear wheel (was a bit difficult to turn by hand in nuetral) the other wheel would turn the same direction. It's always been my experience that when you turn a wheel one direction, the other wheel turns that opposite direction unless it has some sort of "locker". My first thought is to replace the outer wheel bearings but does anybody else have any ideas? Thanks

 

You have a Limited Slip rear differential and it sounds to me there is something wrong with the clutches. You should pull the cover and clean her out and look for anything broken.

If the wheels turn the same direction then it is LS, and if they turn in reverse to each other it means it's acting like an Open differential. Lockers when applied turn the same direction just like the LS.

Make sure if you change out the lubricant that you use Friction Modifier, I would use a whole 7oz bottle then top it off to the bottom of the fill hole (1/4 inch down from the fill hole) and call it a day.

 

Do they come stock w/ limited slip? and if there is some broken material or something, what kinda work am i looking at. I know enough to do most my own repairs but have never touched a diferential.

 

Also what should i clean it out with? And i get the idea of "friction modifier" but have nver heard of it. Any particular brand your refering too? thanks

 

Pull the cover, and have a look. You can clean it out with spray cans of carb, or brake cleaner.

Friction modifier is an additive required for LSD diffs, you can get gear lube that already has it in it.

Get your build sheet from dodge, there is a thread in the faq section for how to go about it. (it's easy, fill out an online form, and they email it to you...) It will tell you if you have stock lsd or not. I wouldn't wait to get the sheet though, you may be able to fix it just by cleaning it out, and changing the fluid, wait too long, and it gets REAL expensive, damn quick.

 

^^ +1 for HeyYou post

Link to Trac loc service book http://www2.dana.com/pdf/5313-3.pdf This will give you a idea of what is needed to just rebuild the lsd.

Pix of Spider gears,side gears and clutch discs.

 

good info, i'll give it a shot. thanks guys

 

Look at the decal on radiator support or bottom of hood, and the decal inside glove box.