What kind of axles under 94-02 1500 Ram?

[Flatty]

I am looking at getting one of these for a daily driver/tow rig, but I want to know what kind of axles are under it. Is the front an IFS setup, or a solid axle? Does the rear come with a 60? I know the 60 is a 3/4 or 1ton axle, but you never know with these new rigs. is that setup under these rigs pretty strong as well? Give me all the info you got on these.

Dimitri

[GRMhick]

1500's have a dana 44 front (with CAD, and unit bearing hubs) and a 9.25" rear (semi floating, larger shafts than a 30 spline 60). I also think that most people will agree they are less than marginal for a tow rig. Really under powered for the weight of the truck. Have fun sitting in 2nd gear doing 55 floored going up hills.

[FULLSIZE]

agree'd. i think the power would be tolerable, but i'd look for a 3/4 or 1 ton for tow duty. :D

[redramsport]

And if you go with the 3/4 ton or the 1 ton, might as well go for the cummins turbo deisel and the 5 speed at the same time. That will get rid of most of the weak factory parts. Thing will tow a house around without to much complaint for ya!!

I wish I would have known this before I bought my Dodge Ram.

[Rocktoyo]

Watch the 4500 behind the 12v CTD.


There are a few issues with it.

1) 5th retaining nut back off, wipes the mainshaft splines off.
2) weak retainer for the tapered roller bearings on the lay shaft. (learned this one the hard way, 900 ft lbs flexes it and killes the bearings)
3)weak shifter housing, you've got to locktite it in and you cant horse it, it'll break the ears off.


If you choose the 4500, make sure you do not tow over 5k in 5th while turning under 1900 rpm, the harmonics will lunch the gearbox.

Get a governer kit in mill, this way it'll pull up to 2500 rpm which makes the gear splits fall into the powerband of the motor. (Stock the 3-4 shift @2200 will drop you to 1500, harmonics and lack of boost will kill the pull on a big hill, which will also kill the gearbox long term) The 12v starts making good power at 1650 and will pull its heart out up to 2250 stock, getting it to pull past 2500 aint going to hurt the mill and makes those long pulls uphill to speed a lot friendlier.

Personally if I had it to do again, I would have held out for the 6 speed, and still might convert mine.



Joe

[ramv]

55 in 2nd? OMG I would have killed for 55 at times. my stock 360 towing a nicely built Heep would only do 30 mph (redline first) with 4.10s, and stock tires on mountain passes. Of course now, with mods it will usually do 55 w/ 35"s but why? It sucks travelling less then the speed limit. CTD is preferable.

The axles are okay, ball joints and knuckles seem weak in the front 44 but seems like people with frnt 60s in the 2500/3500 are happy.