I currently have a 04 ram 1500 4x4 and it has the corporate 9 axle with 3.92 gears in it. I have (what I figure to be) problems of the clutch packs burning out, yes the additive has been added in every change of the fluid (approx 20,000-30,000 miles). The truck does haul a lot of weight and think this might be part of the problem. I have recently replaced the cancerous bed with a home made flatbed dump box (approx 300lbs more than the original box) and am adding airbag suspension on top of having the original springs. The truck is still going to be hauling a bunch of weight as I work on firewood often. I was thinking about switching to a 3/4 ton axle (from a gasser 2500) but not too sure about the gearing. The only ones I have found so far are that are close are the 10.5 3.73 axles, and with mine being the 3.92 what would that do to my front end if used on slick terrain like mud and snow? It cost me over $3500 to have the front axle rebuilt and cant afford to switch that out to the 3.73 or rebuild it again.

On a side note, the current packs in the rear axle have been the longest standing at a current 62,000 (usually have to change them out about every 20,000 to 30,000). The pack kits arent that expensive but am concerned with the bearings holding up also. If I stick with the corporate 9 is there a heavy duty bearing I can use in it to hold up, or is this axle built to handle this kind of stress and weight?

Thank you in advance for any insight you might be able to share!

 

Don't overload the truck.

If you have different ratios front/rear, you WILL be breaking things, regardless of what surface you drive on. The front and rear gear ratios MUST match.

Might consider re-gearing your *new* rear axle....... Either that, or upgrading the LSD that's in it.

 

How about a heavier duty bearing, or will the stock style bearings hold up to more weight?

 

Just buy good quality bearings. I don't think they differentiate between light duty, or heavy duty, they are all pretty much the same.

 

Sounds good, thank you for the assistance!

 

Happy to be of service.