Hello, I have a 2004 ram 4X4 3.92 gears. Yesterday i heard a loud banging, clunking coming from the rear end. I check it out and found oil in the wheel well and leaking from the back of the brake rotor. I'm guessing a bad axle shaft seal. I was worried though cause i don't know what would cause the loud sound. The gears look good and I dont see any silver metal spots (that would cause me to think something was outta alignment). There is some metal in the oil but not big pieces and not much. Could a bearing failure cause this? Look at where the bearing sits around the axle shaft. There are tiny cuts, could this be something?
THX

 

Lack of oil got the bearing hot. The bearing failed. You will need to do the other side as well. Use some emery cloth to fix the bearing surface. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just no ridges.

 

Awesome, thank you sir.

 

Sorry P, but I disagree. I would not be installing that chewed up axle with a new bearing. The rough surface on that axle will soon take out the new bearing in my opinion.....just my thoughts and experience. ....

 

that rear end is gonna need a full solvent washing to get any metal out, its pretty clean an not sludgy looking so you maybe fine at the pumpkin but id use new bearings an axles. Since you're in that deep might as well do the pinion bearing if you plan on keeping it. I bet it would take 20ft of emery paper to smooth out those pits in the axle

 

Thx for the replies, I ended up buying two new axle shafts with seals and bearings. Got them put in and it's running good. Was about $220 for all the parts.