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Gen 2 Ram Rear axle clunk

SomeGuyFromOlympia

Well-known member
Joined
May 31, 2020
Member Number
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Thought that it was my U-Joints, well I was wrong

for those that know, what am I getting into here?
I am trying to prepare for the repair, I have just never done a rear end before

cliffs:
2001 Dodge Ram 2500
Diesel/Auto
4x4
all stock other than the required maintenance
300+k miles

some of you are pretty sharp at this, and some of you think you are but are not and will be ignored :grinpimp:

Thanks in advance


video was done with E Brake on
Dana 80 Dana 70

still not sure if this should be in the tow rig section
 
Last edited:
That’s D70

My 97 Ram 2500 did similar and it was carrier bearings.

Plan on to do carrier bearings, only if races didn’t spin.

I lucked out mind didn’t spin. I threw in new set of bearings to get by until I permanent fixed it with a D80 swap.
 
Looks like a d80 to me but meh.

If its a posi get a gear and clutch kit. If its open meh.

Thats stacked lash. Shaft splines, gear splines, gear mesh, spider bore to carrier pin, to r & p back lash.
 
That’s D70

My 97 Ram 2500 did similar and it was carrier bearings.

Plan on to do carrier bearings, only if races didn’t spin.

I lucked out mind didn’t spin. I threw in new set of bearings to get by until I permanent fixed it with a D80 swap.

When you said carrier bearing in the text I was think drive shaft carrier bearing :homer:

X2 on pinion nut
 
Looks like a d80 to me but meh.

If its a posi get a gear and clutch kit. If its open meh.

Thats stacked lash. Shaft splines, gear splines, gear mesh, spider bore to carrier pin, to r & p back lash.
so you are saying a full rebuild?
 
I haven't done anything but change the oil when it was time, I have never checked the pinion nut

But if it is wore out, it has 300k miles and I can't complain, they have been a lot of towing miles
 
Wellll........
I smoked mine.

But it was beat and over loaded daily with 400k.

It was 1 of the 2 that ive ever had to rebuld in over 2k diff rebuilds
 
Looks like a d80 to me but meh.
D80s don't have that hump below the pinion snout and the pinion snout is almost as big as the yoke.

maxresdefault.jpg
 
I haven't done anything but change the oil when it was time, I have never checked the pinion nut

But if it is wore out, it has 300k miles and I can't complain, they have been a lot of towing miles

rebuilt mine at like 275k on my 05. pinion bearing went out and i was shredding pinion seals. i was actually out of town when it happened and i needed a shop to do it. cost me $1600 for all new bearings and seals: pinion, carrier, axle etc. like total newb, lots of overloaded miles towing, and i think the 6 speed is a little harder on the torque transfer.
 
Figure I would revisit this thread. Evidently I don't get projects done as fast as I want to imagine .

The only play that I could find is within the spider gear
If this a normal wear item?

Pics of the pin thingy, I don't think that blue stripe should be there?

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The bearings and races all look ok
No glitter
The picture is without clean up, I am kind of shocked it looks this good

what am I missing?
 
Can we get some better pics of the spider gears themselves?
 
I could be wrong, but it almost looks like your spiders have excessive wear. With the discoloration on the pins and the way the spiders look, I wonder if it ran with mis-matched tires on the rear for an excessive amount of time or load.
 
I could be wrong, but it almost looks like your spiders have excessive wear. With the discoloration on the pins and the way the spiders look, I wonder if it ran with mis-matched tires on the rear for an excessive amount of time or load.
I have owned the truck since about mile 13 on the click, I purchased it new. Other than a flat the tires have never been mismatched.
But I agree, it seems that the loose was in the spiders

Bearings still are tight and I cant see anything else that is suspect. I just want another set of eyes because a few of you are really smart in this area :grinpimp:
 
Well I odered all new bearings
I put the same shims back in that came out
as of today, this is where it is sitting
One of the pinion bearings were starting to go, so I guess it was time
back lash is in spec, outer limits but still has a few thousandths
I am trying to decide if I want to mess with it anymore

1718159138123.png
 
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