Dodge Rear End (tractor hauler)

Nebraska Cowman · Nov 1, 2015

I had a rebuilt rear end put in my 04 Dodge (don't ask) When I changed the oil at the recommended 500 mile breakin yesterday this is what I found. Looks like the carrier rubbed on something pretty hard in a previous life? Does that look acceptable to you to put back into service? I'm wondering how long it will hold up. Otherwise it seems to be fine, pinion is wearing in nice and gears are quiet.

Rick Kr · Nov 1, 2015

I have built a lot of Ford 9in axle when we drag raced. Im really not seeing in the pictures where you say its rubbing. Maybe its the angle of the pictures.

Rick

Nebraska Cowman · Nov 1, 2015

Nothing rubbing now, but on the right hand side of the carrier, the end of the pins are showing through the casting. Are they supposed to be that way?

retired farmer · Nov 1, 2015

Looks like it was machined that way to provide an oil relief for those pins.

markct · Nov 1, 2015

Sure looks machined to me, would be pretty gnarly and rough had something dug it up that way especially with the flat spot on side of the casting it wouldn't be so even. Pins showing is likely just the design. Were they not showing on your old one? Could be a later/earlier case that is interchangeable but had a little different design.

tedregentin · Nov 1, 2015

Sometimes it can be a judgment call. Over the years I have seen that kind of damage on carriers and they ran just fine. Recently, we had a late model F450 with damage that looked like what is in your pictures and we ended up installing a used rear end.

Lazy WP · Nov 1, 2015

Howard, as I said before on my 06, we rebuilt the rearend once, and never even got home with it. Put a complete housing in the next time, and pulled it pretty hard for about 1800 miles. When I traded it off, I think I could feel a growl in it again.
From what I gathered, a person that is pulling a lot with a corporate rear end, needs to change carrier bearings in the rear end at about 80,000 then about every 40,000 after that.
On mine, I followed the Dodge recommendations to a T, but should have listened to my buddy who actually works on them instead.
I know one guy that was on his 4th rear end, when I left. Dodge was warrantying them, but he was still without his feed truck the whole time.

john in la · Nov 1, 2015

That sure looks machined to me.

BUT.............

If it had been rubbing on the blue part in the past wouldn't the red part be rubbed off also.

GVSII · Nov 1, 2015

If it's quiet and you didn't find any shavings/filings in the housing I don't think you have anything to worry about.

marloweg · Nov 1, 2015

that is machined that way just had one out last week looks the same

JD Seller · Nov 1, 2015

They are machined that way. I have four of these Dodge trucks and they all look that way. I remove the back cover and clean them all out every 40-50K. I will disagree with the fellow that says to change the bearings every 40K. I Do change the oil every 25K in them. The oldest truck has 450K on it and the original rear end lasted 350K before it shucked the ring and pinion. I had the complete center section rebuilt and it has been fine. Rebuilding it with NEW ring and pinion was around $900 and used rear ends where selling for $1500+. These trucks are used hard too. The oldest one is hooked to a goose neck 80% of the time. The empty weight is 14K and we haul 10 ton of hay three times each week.

CenTex Farmall · Nov 1, 2015

What "Retired Farmer" says, looks like it was machined with a radius tool in order to guarantee an oil relief without leaving a short radius stress raiser. In fact, looks like they could have gone a little deeper.

Looks like a torque sensing differential.....

Rick Kr · Nov 1, 2015

Nope, I think it was made that way.
Rick

retired farmer · Nov 1, 2015

No, because the casting is sort of rectangle, not completely round.

Nebraska Cowman · Nov 1, 2015

Thanks for all the replies. that makes me feel better. So I guess I'll just drive it. So far it's only had light duty but other than a trip to town after a load of cement it has not left the yard without a trailer. If I want a car I take the car. The heaviest load I've had on it since the overhaul is a load of 6 weight calves.

Dodge Rear End (tractor hauler)

Nebraska Cowman

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Rick Kr

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Nebraska Cowman

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retired farmer

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markct

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tedregentin

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Lazy WP

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john in la

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GVSII

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marloweg

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JD Seller

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CenTex Farmall

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Rick Kr

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retired farmer

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Nebraska Cowman

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