2003 dodge ram 4 door hemi 4x4
4" rancho lift
315/70/17 tires

I don't know what's going on but my truck chews through cv axles every 10k miles and usually takes the front differential with it. It has been rebuilt twice (warrantied from the company that fixed it). They say the cv axles are at too much of an angle, but a reputable 4x4 shop put the lift on.

I don't know what else to do

Thanks in advance.

 

From what I know, you either have to deal with it, or look for some High angle CV shafts. The high angle ones will handle the angel a lot better and therefor last longer. If finding longer ones is not an option. you can remove the lift. Or if you can get Cv's cheap at your local Junk yard, pull a few and replace them every 5-6k miles. Thats about all I can come up with

 

I don't think Hammer has had big problems like that with his lift, I think it's a 4" Rancho lift.
Do you ever see grey grease all over your fender? If you've been popping holes in the CV boots that would explain why they fail so often. Are they factory replacements or a generic NAPA replacement?
You could also try letting some torque off the torsion bars and lower the front end about an inch, should take some angle off the shafts and won't affect looks much. (Hear its a big difference in leveling kits between 2" and 3")

It's odd that the front diff is going with the shafts, do you run them until they are completely destroyed?

 

Measure your CV angle and I'll compare it to mine or at least snap a picture and post it up.

I have the same Rancho lift that I installed myself in '05 and am running slightly larger tires than you. If my CV angle is increased over stock, it's not enough to notice with just my eye. The lift has been on for 5 1/2 years. Still the original CVs. The only problem I've had to date is a tie rod end went out on me and Rancho just sent me TWO for FREE last month.

I researched the sh*t out of suspension lifts and the guys truck I drove with a Rancho kit before I bought mine is also still on his original CVs (an '02 with kit installed in '04).

Did they possibly crank your key bolts as well to sneak a little extra lift? How hard are you on your truck? I'm off-road quite often, but never do any "hard core" stuff. Mainly I'm just traveling 5-15 mph getting back to hunting or fishing spots.

We had a guy on here maybe a year or so ago with the Rancho kit who was on his third rack & pinion and the shop kept blaming the lift kit. He never mentioned having to replace a CV though. In his case I doubted it was the kit, but I never saw where he came back to say what the outcome was.

I've heard of this problem fairly often with Fabtech & Superlift kits which unlike the Rancho kit, REQUIRE you to crank the keys to achieve the full amount of the listed lift height. But this is the first I've heard of someone with the Rancho kit blowing CVs.

Freestyledude also brings up a good point. If you are tearing the CV boot, it doesn't even matter if you have a lift or are bone stock, your CV is going to go out on you once the lubrication has been flung out by centrifugal force...

 

I do not know much about the half ton front ends, but it seams to me you have other issues than just a lift kit. Theres too many Dodges out there with 4" and 6" lifts with no driveline issues. From what I understand, most of the IFS kits these days have nearly factory driveline angles (but not completely sure on that).

I believe Hammer is running the same lift/wheel combo as you, and I have not heard of him having any issues.

How are you using your truck? Just daily driving/weekend wheeling, or more like a dedicated wheeler/mud bogger?

 

CV axles and front diff are isolated from one another so not sure why the would go together unless your diff. has failed and broken your cv's, but a cv wouldn't really damage the diff.
Are you wheeling? IFS and wheeling dont go together too well so if your running it hard offroad you will have stuff continually break.
stock cv angle is harsh in itself IMO and guys that lift too much with spacers have issue's. You got any spacers with your lift?

 

Defiantly post some pics of the cv joint angle. Sound like it be cranked to high.

 

I measured the front and rear wheel wells and my front one is 1.25" higher than my rear. 44.25" & 43".

I am going to investigate the t-bars and see if I can lower them.

I don't off road at all, I occasionally pull a 6000lb trailer or my boat. But 99% of the trucks life is on highway pavement

 

Well I was more concerned with the angle measurement of the CVs BUT it sounds to me like they cranked the TB bolts too. I don't remember the measurements of mine exactly, but I know my front is now about 3/4" lower than my rear at the wheel well centers. I know when I installed the lift kit they were just about level. Of course I've had about 150 lbs. of grill guard, winch bracket & winch weighing the front of mine down for almost 5 years.

However, guys are always cranking the torsion keys about 2" or so to do a level, so 1.25" of crank shouldn't be an issue UNLESS in conjunction with the lift kit it's too severe.
I think it's surely worth lowering the keys to level though and go from there...

 

Hammer,

Do you know if you have the basic 4x4, factory Off-Road, or dealer installed off-road package? My brother and I bought 03 4.7 new in 04 as they were the last 03s on the lot. When we bought them his had Off-Road package and I had Off-Road Sport package listed on the dealer installed options. My brother who is a construction worker and used his 4x4 much more than I did had same issues right off the bat 5,000 miles in. Neither have anything more than the dealer installed leveling kits.

The problem was that the dealers off-road packages where exactly that Off-Road only packages. If 4wd is used when the surface is too dry, or does not allow enough slippage you get the result of breaking CVs, or shearing teeth on the front differential. After my brother sheared teeth on his front dif, I actually opened my owners manual and found this bright orange warning paper that said not to engage the 4wd system on pavement or packed dirt for risk of damage to the differentials and/or transfer case.