I did my diff this weekend and I have never seen the dreaded clips or, luckily, anything else other than fluid coming out of the pumpkin.

I would like to know what I am looking for and what is going on if the clips break? Is it time to start looking for a new rear if the clips are broken?

 

Oh Lord, do a search of this section or even Google it. It's probably the single most written about Ram issue. In this section alone you could probably read/see pics until your grandchildren are old enough to drive...

 

Here is a worthwhile thread with good pics and it has some great advice.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...s-it-pics.html

 

couldn't help but to post this one... even if it won't come through.
here is Hammer talking about this same problem from almost 5 years ago.

http://www. ***** .com/forums/showthread.php?t=144911&page=5

This is from DT
post # 87

There are good pics in this thread back in the earlier pages that show why these clips can be called a "C" or a "W" clip depending on which end of the clip you are looking at.

 

Wow, thanks. Gives me something to look for. I might drop my diff cover tomorrow and see what she looks like in there.
What do you guys recommend for the diff cover gasket?
Also, last time I changed my fluid I used Mobil 1 synthetic... I don't think you need a LSD additive when using that kind of lube do you?

 

Finally made it to the end of the above thread on DT and it still is very active. The last post to it was ...today. 5 years worth of broken clips and roached 9.25 LSD rear ends. Hammer wasn't kidding about this being a popular topic with pictures enough to last for a long while.

 

I am 99% sure I found my problem... on a Jaguar forum none the less, lol. Anyway, when I did my pinion seal, like I said, I just marked everything and then I put the nut back on. I have read that most people when doing it this way usually tighten it a bit passed the previous mark (~1/8th turn). I dropped my drive shaft last night to see how much I torqued the pinion nut, and unless the nut moved (which I doubt), it looks like I tightened it right back up where it was, I didn't tighten it past there at all.
I came upon this webpage, which isn't a Ram, but is the same type of diff and the same principle. The symptoms he describes is EXACTLY what I have. And this morning I just noticed that the rear only makes the noise sometimes, and only after the diff warms up. I am guessing when the diff warms up and metal expands you have a bit more play in the pinion/ring gear.

Do you guys think it is worth to try this out?
http://bernardembden.com/xjs/diff/index.htm

Like I said, its been doing it for ~8,000 miles or so since I did the pinion seal. I don't think the pre-load is that much off because it only does it when it is warm, from about 5-8mph, with only the right about of throttle(too much or too little and it makes no noise).

What say you gents!?

Also, I am going to do my fluid this weekend and check to see how those w-clips are looking.

 

Bumpity bump

 

Closing this out. Found the problem, as weird as it was. I took off my left rear wheel couple days ago. Took a look at my pads, and the inside pad was worn much more at the top than the bottom. So I began to take out the brake caliper pins, and as I am unscrewing them I can see the screw head wobbling around. It turns out that the first half of the pins (~1/2" worth) were bent. With the pins bent it wasn't allowing the caliper to float. After driving a mile or 2 the brakes would heat up and the pads/rotor would rub. Above 10mph, the rotor would be able to "force" the pads away and no more noise. But under 10mph the pad would hang up and make a resonating "hum". I guess it was worse going up hill because with the load on the rear end the the axle would move in/out ever so slightly it would rub.
So I greased the pins, the pad sliders, and the back of the pads. Slapped it all back together and no more noise!!!! I am sure the grease helped, but also changing the orientation of the bent pins is what mostly got rid of it. Not sure how the pins ever got bent(I am the second owner), but new ones are on order.