Hi, I have a 1998 ram 2500 v8 gasoline. Today after driving around some, I was in a parking lot and had to reverse. When I put it into reverse it didn't want to move, this has happened before and i have fixed it by just giving it more gas until whatever is holding it stuck gives and i can move. This time however, while reversing, it reversed very rough and wouldnt stop until i put it back into drive. I was then able to reverse smoothly without a problem. Then when I got back on the road I noticed the speedometer wasn't working. Previously before this happened, I changed the fluid in the rear differential as well as replace the sensor on the rear diff to fix the brake and abs light that were showing on the dash. Also, there is some oil being sprayed under the wheel well on the rear left side. It started once i had replaced the diff fluid, I didnt over fill the fluid, i filled it to the hole on the diff. Any help would be super, thanks!

 

Have you check the fluid level? And the output sensor is for odometer. Remove the sensor and inspect for debris. Also when you remove the sensor it will leak fluid. So put a drip pan under the sensor. Sensor takes a 1 inch socket or a wrench.

 

Sounds like debris has damaged the rear speed sensor, maybe some kibble and bits that used to be part of a bearing. If a bearing has failed that would explain why the rear end sometimes doesn't want to spin. It also generates a lot of heat which then pushes diff fluid out the vent that ends at the driver side wheel well. The oil is not coming from the rear drum I assume ?

 

Ok, so i pulled the sensor off just now. The sensor was covered in metal shavings, so i will definately need a new one. I literally replaced this sensor 2 months ago. Should i be concerned that it became covered with debris so soon? And the oil looks like it is leaking from the large circular disk that the wheel is connected to

 

Sounds like a wheel seal and how big of shavings?

 

They were pretty small, but lots of them

 

Replacing the sensor isn't going to help. Your trans is eating itself up from the inside. Time for a tear down, to see what carnage has already happened.

 

The trans or the differential? 2 months ago when I changed the diff fluid everything looked good, there wasn’t a whole lot of shavings.

 

Which sensor had the junk on it? That is where you are going to find one problem.

 

it was the rear diff sensor that had the shavings. Do you mean getting a new sensor won’t fix the speedometer problem or the overall problem that the diff might have? Obviously it won’t solve the shavings problem, but everything in the diff looked ok. The teeth looked clean and spun freely. It’s only when I reverse it has issues. And that’s only occassionally