I searched, didn't find anything exactly like this so maybe this thread can help others.

I'll do several posts, perhaps not all today.

I recently swapped a '96 9.25 into a '00. Here's just a few differences I found.

Possible u-joint and yoke differences:
The '96 used the funky Dodge crossover joint with internal clips that hold it into a yoke that also utilizes straps. The '00 used a flange mount.

I simply removed the flange on the d/s altogether and then a 458 or 5-7437X u-joint will get you in business. To my surprise my NAPA actually stocked a 458BF - the "BF" meaning Brute Force which really just seems to mean it's non-greaseable, which is always my preference

Yoke on '96 axle. You can see where half-clips were riding before (finger indicates). The caps are 1-1/8" in the yoke and 1-1/16" in the d/s (external clips)

Flange on '00 axle

 

Tone ring electrical connector differences :

This is easily handled by swapping the sensor in the top of the pig

'96 connector - two long tabs, squeeze left and right and pull

'00 connector, one tab on top. Push down and pull

 

Brake hardware differences

The brake hardware is considerably different. This isn't really a big deal, you just have to know what year you want to give the parts counter when time for replacement comes..

I don't know if the backing plates are the same such that you could completely convert to one setup or the other.

2000 configuration. Among other things, it uses the fancy silver cable to click the auto adjuster pawl

'96 setup. Uses the little conical spring (finger indicates) to preload adjuster pawl

 

My 99 is ujoint diff and same brakes as 96. Not gonna check the sensor but probably like the 96.

Lot of internal and cosmetic changes happened in 98-99 but mechanical upgrades, namely brakes, occurred in 2000.

 

Wheel cylinder differences

The '00 wheel cylinders angled their threaded input for the hardline. This means they are right and left specific. The '96 has the input straight or square to the backing plate.

Also not a big deal because you can bend the hardline to accommodate either angle. If you buy aftermarket hardlines from sstubes.com they are built for the earlier, straight style (again, you can bend by hand to correct for the later, angled wheel cylinders).

Also, I can confirm that the earlier wheel cylinders will fit in the '00 backing plate.

Female threads in wheel cylinder angle toward rear of vehicle in '00

 

Squirrel!

If anyone wants a flange for '00+ it's yours for cost of shipping

This is the companion flange you likely won't need if the axle is '99 or earlier

 

Parking brake cable differences

Even though both trucks were the same body style, bed length etc, the parking brake cables were very different.

I recommend having a game plan for parking brake cables as they can become a real rabbit-hole situation . OTOH cables aren't a show stopper so you can always drive the truck while trying to figure it out.

The right side cable from the '96 was too short for the '00. At this point I honestly don't remember why - I didn't pull the '96 rear end from the donor so I wasn't there for all the minutiae. I was able to just fit a new cable for a 2000 Ram to the '96 backing plate.

The LEFT cable is more of a CF. In '96 Dodge opted to have the cable exit the REAR of the backing plate then immediately do a u-turn and go over the axle tube inboard of the spring perch, at which point I believe it interfaced with a frame bracket, possibly behind the spring eye (refer again to me not being there for the removal of the '96 axle).

I think this earlier setup allowed Dodge to use the same backing plate left and right, it just meant the passenger side cable came out of the front of the backing plate as it should but when the same plate is used on the driver side it had to (somewhat awkwardly) exit the rear of the plate.

'96 LH cable exits rear of backing plate

2000 cable exits front of backing plate (front of vehicle would be toward concrete floor in this image)

 

Backing plate mounting flange differences - way down the rabbit hole. Eat me or drink me?

Anyway, I needed the '00 cable setup on the left. This meant I needed to put the '00 backing plate on the '96 housing I had just installed.

In the course of doing so (enter the rabbit hole) I just could NOT get the '00 backing plate to fully seat on the '96 flange. I finally found a bit of interference in the radius at the bottom of the flange. I lopped it off with an angle grinder and the backing plate happily slid into place

I KNOW it doesn't look like it here but these humps in the backing plate taper and were preventing proper fitment. Again, this photo just doesn't do it justice - in real life it was apparent

Problem solved. Cut the '96 flange for the '00 backing plate

 

Anyway, I think that's all I've got. I have briefly driven the '00 since and all was well.

This was precipitated by the '00 rear somehow getting filled with water. It was then driven an unknown time with way too much water in it, then way too little gear oil as the water evaporated.

The end result was a very noisy ring and pinion, or MAYBE carrier bearings or pinion bearings. It would only whine as you tipped into the accelerator. Let off and it was quiet, telling me it wasn't wheel bearings. I was unable to find a smoking gun in the '00 rear, although I have not pulled the carrier or pinion.

The noise is completely resolved with the replacement '96 which was just sitting here on my property, so I'll take it.