I purchased a used 04 Ram quad cab 4x2 w/ 4.7 L. It's got 3.55 gears in the rear end and the tag in glove box says it's a Corporate 9. The last 6 of my VIN is 224236. I called the dealer and they were not sure if it was limited slip or not. Do any of you know?

I purchased it with 51,000 miles. After about 500 miles I started to hear a whine that sounds like a rear end to me. Only can hear it when on the gas. Let off and it stops. I don't think the rear end has been serviced at all. Any opinions would be helpfull?

Here is what I've learned so you don't need to repeate. The 9.25 Limited Slip rear end has a clip that can break or fall off, causing LS clutch problems. (I'm not sure if this is the rear end I have or not?)

Whine can be caused by too thin or too old of oil, needs service.

Whine can be caused by pinion bearing going bad.

Whine can be caused by backlash not set properly.

I jacked up the rear and turned one of the wheels. The other wheel turned in the other direction. The drive line looked OK and no strange sounds from rear end when doing this.

Can anyone help?

 

open diff. can also confirm by looking for a tag around the axle housing just inside the rear right tire. should be a bright colored sticker around the axle, but might be covered with crud.

 

pull the pumpkin cover and have a look. 50k+ on the original diff oil, needed changing 20k ago. Hopefully it's not done damage to the ring and pinion, but it sounds like it'd too late...

 

there is a DIY for changing diff oil. it's not hard. take a look and change that oil.

 

Hey Feej, you getting any good at it by now?

 

I think i'm going to buy a pump. I'm sick of dropping $50 in oil every time I do this.

 

Thanks for the feedback. It's a very light whine, so I hope it's not done to much damage. I'll do the oil change and let you all know if it made the whine go away or not.

 

The axel tag says it's a 9.25, 3.55, 4x2, OPEN. I'll pop it open and check it all out.

 

if it's fain't could be the lube has just thinned out on you, but don't wait long before pulling it open and changing it. Look at the magnet on the bottom, if there is no metal stuck to it you are golden...

 

I looked inside and just some sludge at the bottom. All the gear contact points looked even. I cleaned it all up with a rag and put in 77oz of LUCAS 80-140. Test drove it and cut the whine by about 1/2. I can still hear it but much better. It's so easy, I'll just change it more often and hope for the best!