Im in need of a stronger rear for my 1500 with towing package. NOT! Don't know how you can sell a truck and claim it to be a tow package with 3.55 gears.

But anywho to get to the point i want to put 4.10's in it. But being a little cost restrictive what do you all think about buying from an auto recycler?

This is turning into my nightmare truck. ie: engine probs out the wazoo and dealer has no clue whats causing them and an undersized rear i'm just finding out

 

Undersized? Every 1500 (except SRT-10) comes with the 9.25 (maybe wrong gears, but that's fixable).

 

actually the AAM 9.25 is a stronger rear end than either the GM or Ford offerings in 1/2 ton trucks, although I agree with you, 3.55 is a pathetic gearing for any type of towing.

The 4.7 and Hemi are pretty reliable engines. The 4.7 really only has issues that are due to improper care (sludge problems when using dino oil and not changing it often enough and head gasket/head issues if allowed to overheat). Short of that, I personally have done some lift/suspension work on quite a few with well over 200,000 miles on them. The Hemi has shown to be relatively problem free even with only marginal care.
I'd find me another dealer to work on it.

The move to crappier gears is not only a Dodge thing, newer Dodge, Ford and Chevy trucks are making the move to 3.55 and even 3.21 gearings strictly to be able to achieve government imposed emission restrictions that 1/2 ton trucks must adhere to. Lower rpms at speed = lower emissions put out by the engine.

Regear to 4.10s if your tire size is under 33", 4.56s if you are running 33" or larger tires. You will feel like you just got a new truck.

DO NOT skimp out on gears or the installer, MANY horror stories abound about gears set improperly...

 

the rear it's self is marked as a 3.55, which sorry if im wrong but im new to the ram trucks. just want a little more ability to climb hill so i dont burn as much gas heading up the hill. The loss of momentum is a killing when im running west. The hemi in it was great for the first month now it's having a reoccuring problem but atleast the delaer is trying to help me out

 

Re-gearing will give it *****, trust me. At least I had the 3.92s stock, but the upgrade to 35" tires gave me an effective ratio down around the 3.55s. The move to 4.56s gives me an effective ratio around 4.11 and it's night and day. Plus another 75 HP or so in power mods didn't hurt me either, LOL.

What's the recurring engine issue?

 

What are your thoughts on used parts?

 

Tell me about it. Got those 3.55's myself, and I'm not real fond of them when I'm NOT towing.

Let me tell you about crappy gears. I once owned a 1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass with a 350 cubic inch 4-barrel carb engine. Made a really cool sound when those secondaries opened up (Rochester Quadrajet with vacuum secondaries). But the car had a problem - it was the last of the big mid-sized sedans, and the automakers of the time were doing their best to beat the EPA mileage numbers. So GM, in their infinate wisdom, put a 2.50:1 rear axle in this car. That's right - a 2.50 rear end.

Needless to say, the car wouldn't get out of its own way until you hit 35 MPH or so. And the mileage still sucked!

 

Used gears, well maybe if they are all you can afford, IF they look to be in perfect shape. But you'll need a new install kit preferably with Timken bearings.

But the gears are only about $200 a set new, a good installer is the high dollar part of this mod...

 

From what I am seeing, you just want newer gears as has been said. As Hammer said, you can get used gears and be fine. You just need to start calling some shops in your area and see how much they are going to charge to put them in

 

Hammer:

What kind of mpg change did you see when you re-geared? I have the 3.92's with 34.5" tires and would like to go to the 4.56's Will this help or hurt mpg for everyday driving and highway cruising?