This is my first post but I've been reading on here pretty heavy for the last week. Last week I was moving down the highway with the cruise set, a/c on high, radio on, and as I started to take an off ramp my wife reached over and slapped the radio off, and that when we heard it,.... I had lost the pin. So long story short I tore into it without reading up on it first, replaced the pin and bolt, and now it's whining like a twelve year old girl with a skinned knee. SO... I have set up rearends on my 4x4 toys before and I hate it. I am really intimidated by this one, because I need it so much. I commute 70 miles a day. (now whose whining). But I have been doing some research, and given an unlimited amount of funds I would buy a Detroit or auburn carrier new gears and all new bearings. But I have come across a potential money saving piece of info.....I think. I have seen at several web sites that the 9.25 gears and carriers for my half ton are interchangeable (part number wise) all the way back to 1994. I have seen on this forum and others that the carrier problems didn't develop until around third gem rams. 2001. So my favorite salvage yard about two miles from my house has three 2nd gen rams setting there. So I'm sure you know where I'm headed.... Has anyone tried this???? Did it work or fail miserably. And to throw another wrench in the gears, can I toss in a 4x4 LSD? Or do I not have the dreaded c-clips on my open carrier??? When I was in there I didn't really look inside the spider gears to see if I had them or not. Sorry the post is so long, but I had a lot to ask before I empty my wallet!!! This is my second 03 ram and the first one never gave me a seconds problem, and even after this I would still rather push this dodge than drive a ford!!!!

 

Welcome aboard 2003 Ram 1500 Quadcab "Sookie"! Stay tuned - a Technician (or member) will jump in shortly to provide a possible solution. In the meantime, don't forget to browse Sub-Forums: Ram for stuff related to your ride.

 

clutch pack retaining clips are not in the open diffs but are in the LSDs or ASDs. 9.25 inch gears are in the rear. you can normally find used diffs for sale in our classifieds for sale from guys who have upgraded like myself. I use an auburn lsd.

download the service manual from the links in my signature for that 03

 

I figured that the c clips were primarily on the LSD but was wondering if on my stock open carrier to stock LSD swap if my axels lacking the groove would turn into a big issue or is there a conversion available? Should I decide to go that route?

 

By the way Weed, thanks for the SM download

 

the open to lsd swap is a direct swap both ways. if you are going to swap and have the coin, dont forget the after market units like the Auburn and Detroit locker

 

Thanks weed, will remember the detroits and other carriers, but I'm going to have to go cheap this time and just get it back on the road. My local salvage yard has a 94-99 4x4 rear end for $150. I know that I can't just swap this rear end, but by after market part numbers the carrier and gears appear to be the same. I will still end up having to "set up" the rear end but I will be into the carrier, and ring and pinion for about a $1000 less than buying direct replacement parts new.

 

And the rear end I am looking at is 3.92 as opposed to my stock 3.55. So as I am also swapping my stock 17" wheels for a set of stock 20" wheels it all just might work out