R/T is getting its fourth rear diff. Yeah for lifetime warranty!

"Josh Welton" (watchtheprettylight) 10/18/2013 at 16:44 • Filed to: trucklopnik, mopar, brown dog welding, fail

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I love this truck. It's !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! to hang with most modern "muscle" cars, gets !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! em peh guhs, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! when needed, and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! doing it...

But right now it's at the dealer getting its fourth ring and pinion. At 3k miles the diff was leaking, I took it in and they changed the pinion seal. At 4k miles the seal leaked again, this time quickly and resulting in catastrophic failure. At that point they replaced the entire carrier. This lasted me until last year, when the R/T started whining in Vegas. 2k miles into a 7k mile trip, which after LV still included jaunts through the California desert, up the PCH to San Fran, into a blizzard in Idaho, into Yellowstone, through the Badlands, etc. When we got back to Detroit and took it to the dealer, the u-joints were on the verge of failure and the ring and pinion was shot. Glad it held up. So in went number 3.

This time I'm getting ready for another trip out West. I've got free oil changes until next May(and I'm still in a cast), so I took it in this week for oil and a tire rotation. I asked them to take it for a drive, because I'm hearing gear noise. Of course they heard nothing, so they call me to tell me it's done. But while I'm on my way they are gonna take care of a quick recall in the rear diff, just swapping out a pinion nut.

By the time I got there they already had a rental car lined up. When they went in to change that nut it was almost completely backed off...the ring and pinion was showing wear and it all needed swapped out. At least Roseville Chrysler is taking care of it and me(I don't have rental insurance, but they gave me a car until the truck is fixed). Parkway's solution at 4k miles was to tell me "Tech said he saw evidence of rubber in wheel well. You need to stop doing burnouts." Screw you, Parkway. Bunch of hacks. Not enough space here to tell stories about that shit hole.

I've thought about looking into the Lemon Law....but I love this truck. And I've got a lifetime power train warranty so Hey! Free Rear End!

Shaquille O'Neal use to talk about his bad free throw shooting; he said he was so good otherwise he needed that major flaw to "keep him humble." So I guess the rear end is my truck's .527 career free throw percentage. I mean...it's got 60,00 and I haven't even had to touch the brakes yet, pads or rotors. So that's cool

Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. > Josh Welton 10/18/2013 at 16:46

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Honestly, it sounds like something is wrong with the housing that's not keeping things where they should be.

And oddly enough, my 12 year old, 120k mile Dakota still has the original pads. With plenty left on them.

HammerheadFistpunch > Josh Welton 10/18/2013 at 16:47

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4...FOUR. Thats amazing.

Josh Welton > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 10/18/2013 at 16:52

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I agree with you. Whatever, I'll let them keep changing gears.

Takuro Spirit > Josh Welton 10/18/2013 at 16:57

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If you like the truck, and don't mind the downtime.... FREE DIFFS YEAH!!

ZiptieMcBumper > Josh Welton 10/18/2013 at 17:35

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How do you feel about the truck overall? Any regrets? Anything you'd do differently?

I ask because I'm in the market for a new vehicle soon. I was leaning toward a Mustang GT, but the wife keeps pushing me toward a truck, so now the R/T is in the mix as well.

Dinger loves his ranger. > Josh Welton 10/18/2013 at 17:39

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You haven't had to touch the brakes because your truck's in the shop too much to have to use them.

Kidding.

Warranties are nice things.

Michael H > Demon-Xanth knows how to operate a street. 10/18/2013 at 17:40

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What's wrong is that Chrysler dealership service monkeys were allowed to service something that requires adjustment and care like a gearset. I doubt the guy who serviced it owns a dial indicator or could adequately explain backlash, preload, or how to acheive a proper gear contact pattern. If it goes above R&R'ing a complete assembly too many techs nowadays (especially Chrysler techs) are in over their damned heads.

BrianRad > Josh Welton 10/18/2013 at 19:09

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I have owned 7 F-150s between '89-'06 models. Never replaced any diffs, clutches, transmissions ( new seals for a fluid leak in my '94 trans.)

Josh Welton > Dinger loves his ranger. 10/18/2013 at 20:11

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It's got 60k miles on it :)

Josh Welton > ZiptieMcBumper 10/18/2013 at 20:12

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I love it. LOVE IT. It's beat up on a few Mustangs too ;)

Josh Welton > BrianRad 10/18/2013 at 20:13

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If you're ugly, you better be tough.

Josh Welton > ZiptieMcBumper 10/18/2013 at 20:15

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...and this isn't exactly a common problem on these. Mine was one of the first 100 built right before the bankruptcy and the 4.10 wasn't offered in anything else. The trans is typically the weak link in the Rams, not the rear diff.

BrianRad > Josh Welton 10/18/2013 at 20:18

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That's why they call them "work trucks" and not "silly playtime toys"

Josh Welton > BrianRad 10/18/2013 at 20:42

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"work"....must be why they chrome the tailgates...

ZiptieMcBumper > Josh Welton 10/18/2013 at 20:48

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Not trying to bug you or keep you attached to the new Kinja interface all night, but do you have the 6-speed or the 8-speed? I've heard a lot of people "holding out" for the 8-speed Torque-Flite on Ram forums, and it felt really good when I test drove one (as in, the BEST non-DCT auto I've ever driven), but I don't have a whole lot of "down in the shit" real-world testimonials about that particular transmission.

I'm a manual luddite... always have been. It's not an issue of "it's more complicated, so it will probably break", it's... I don't want to deal with software for the engine AND trans.

Josh Welton > ZiptieMcBumper 10/18/2013 at 20:52

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'09 was still a 5 speed.

As far as I know, no R/Ts for '14.

I always joke that as soon as my lifetime warranty runs out I'm gonna swap in a t56...

ZiptieMcBumper > Josh Welton 10/18/2013 at 20:59

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Damn! 60k on an '09... I'd be punishing the ol' DD a lot more than that. Knocking on wood that I don't break my leg, as that would seriously hinder my ability to make money. Hope all turns out well.

The 8-speed I test drove was definitely an R/T (and a '14 model)... said so on the window sticker, even though I couldn't configure the model I drove on Ram's website... go figure.

You might be telling everyone you're joking about that t56, but deep down... you know you want it. We all do.

Josh Welton > ZiptieMcBumper 10/18/2013 at 21:18

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hell yeah I want to!

The '14 was a R/T? That's rad. Some on the R/T facebook page had said they were discontinued. I was wondering if any '13 R/Ts got the 8 speed?

This truck has gotten wrecked once and was out of commission for a month or so. First winter I didn't drive it at all. Plus I've spent 2+ of those years working from home. It's actually done 2 Power Tour long hauls, the 7k road trip I mentioned above, and a few trips to Wisconsin and Iowa.

DoctorThrottle > ZiptieMcBumper 10/18/2013 at 21:23

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If you go for the Mustang, be sure to opt for the (gulp) automatic trans. I had a '12 manual and the china made MT-82 junkbox of a trans was lousy enough to cause me to sell the car at 15k miles. True story.

ZiptieMcBumper > DoctorThrottle 10/18/2013 at 21:44

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Oh hells no... please elaborate. I drove a 4.6 GT manual (have not actually driven a 5.0 manual), and it seemed OK. However, being a guy that came from the glory of Miata and Acura manuals, I didn't really know what to expect.

You MUST tell me more.

Azzy > Josh Welton 10/18/2013 at 22:12

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If i had to troubleshoot:
Drive line angles are wrong (needs shimmed)
Drive shaft is unbalanced, causing stress on the pinion bearingYou are missing an oil slinger in there

or you have something out of line causing the whole thing to be wonky. I would ask for a whole new axle assembly.

aquila121 > Josh Welton 10/18/2013 at 22:41

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"Parkway's solution at 4k miles was to tell me 'Tech said he saw evidence of rubber in wheel well. You need to stop doing burnouts.' Screw you, Parkway."

[Slow clap] This made my day. Well, this and yourstereotypicalindian's post with the E30 BMW on a dyno with anti-lag.

Josh Welton > Azzy 10/18/2013 at 22:51

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I think there's a problem with the housing myself. Pry the reason the pinion seal leaked in the first place. Whatever, I'll let them keep replacing the gears.

PS9 > Josh Welton 10/19/2013 at 00:28

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When I clicked, I expected to see a three-rear-axle 8x8 R/T. I am dissapoint.

Azzy > Josh Welton 10/19/2013 at 13:35

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incorrect angles can put more pressure on the pinion seal and cause them to go. Or they didn't tighten it to the correct poundage, and it ran loose.

Azzy > Azzy 10/19/2013 at 13:36

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Either way, it would suck to have the thing go, and do more damage to the truck, or you, when at speed.

Josh Welton > Azzy 10/19/2013 at 14:34

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Not sure how the angle would be that off? It's lowered now, but first two times it wasn't. I've had vehicles with much more severe pinion angles and never had an issue.

Azzy > Josh Welton 10/19/2013 at 15:49

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is it a 2 u-joint shaft, or CV or double cardan? if the first, the output from the transfer case and the pinion should be parallel.

If the later, the pinion should be in line with the driveshaft.

DoctorThrottle > ZiptieMcBumper 10/25/2013 at 14:59

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The 4.6 car still has the old World Class T-5, five speed in it, a great trans. 11-up Mustangs of all flavors (except Shelby) have the 6 speed "MT82" Getrag unit that is made in China. It was actually parts-binned from a Ford/Rover delivery van sold only in Europe and had issues even in those. Plastic shift forks and weak, paper thin synchros are just some of the shitty things about this trans.

Mine had issues from day one, on a brand new V6. The same exact trans is used in the 5.0 cars with slightly different gear ratios. I've had many manual cars and trucks and never felt a trans that shifted like that. They're EXTREMELY notchy and rubbery at all times and reluctant to go into any gear when not warmed up fully. If you don't have a golden hand when shifting briskly you will miss the gear and be rewarded with a loud clunk and grind. Clunks.... clunks and clunks. Even sitting still, shifting back and forth between first and second made the driveshaft rattle back and forth and the noise produced resonated through the car. Three different aftermarket shifters didn't help. Near the 15k mark I started getting a grind going into 5th (??), a gear I never shifted aggressively into. Ford's solution was a fluid change, didn't help. They refused to replace my trans due to mods I had done to the car (rear gear, rear control arms, and tuner), none of which have anything to do with a fifth gear syncro being fucked up. I spent many thousands of dollars trying to eliminate other issues the car had... vibrations, clunks, etc. that Ford just passed off as "normal." I drove several other V6 cars and they all had the same problem... my Ford dealer said if you're not happy step up to a 5.0. So I drove a few of those.. same trans, same shitty shift feel and clunky chunky driveline.

Really a shame... the rest of the car was fantastic. Super comfy seats, Cadillac smooth ride, superlative handling, low 13s in the quarter with a few bolts ons, 150+ top speed, and still got 30+mpg highway with a 3.73. I added some Performance package 19" rims and some window tints too.

End game? I got rid of the car and all its headaches and used the money to buy a mint, freshly restored '81 Z28 with a mildly built 400 SBC and a lovely, smooth shifting Super T-10 with a nice Hurst shifter and a T handle. The handle freezes my hand a bit when it's cold outside. Gotta bitch about something. :)

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Josh Welton 11/08/2013 at 13:26

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Seriously considered buying one of these til I learned it was made in Mexico. I love the express package and that dodge still offers a true stripper. Can't really stomach the Mexico bit though. Looks like it'll be a Ford STX or the Chevy cheyenne if they ever build it. Good luck with that rear end.

Josh Welton > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 11/10/2013 at 22:39

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They are now. Mine was built in St. Louis before the bankruptcy.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > Josh Welton 11/10/2013 at 23:17

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It's too bad they closed that plant. Here's to hoping they bring some more truck production back to the states.

TheOnelectronic > Josh Welton 11/14/2013 at 18:45

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I'm glad to hear they moved production to a more civilized place.

#Stlouisian