Damned if you do........Damned if you don't.......

[Runs With Scissors]

Well about a year'ish ago, I am coming to a stop and this "very, very, very, faint" noise catches my attention........Just a "very, very, very slight whine" I hear on decel.

Now my "Spidy Sense's" are tingling.......but it's not that bad, and it's a 20 year old truck, with "a few miles" on her, so..........besides, I know a "little somethin-somethin" about Dodge axles from way back in The Day.

So, I just turn up the radio and "keep on rolling".......

Fast forward to June 2025.

The noise is getting a "wee bit" louder, but still not "concerning", but I have an "out west" Prairie Dog shoot coming up (~2,600 miles round trip)

So I decide to change the fluid in the axles, just for "kicks and giggles".

I don't feel like pulling the cover, so I just use my "oil sucker" to empty them.

The rear axle magnet looks "pretty good".......However both outboard axles are leaking "pretty good", and the oil has saturated my "Parking Brake", rendering it basically useless.

Here are some pics from about 6 weeks previous when I was replacing the rear pads and rotors, so I do know that there is some "axle servicing" in my "near future".

I dont have a pic, but the other side is equally as bad.

Well when I pull the front diff plug, this appears on the magnet......................

DAMN IT!!!!!!

M_________________R!!!!!!!!

So now I am at a "crossroads" of sorts.

Clearly something is wrong........But........What to do about it?

I have about 9 days before I have to leave for the trip, so ......

Do you "tear into it"?

or

Do you "Roll the dice", just fill it up, and hope and pray that it makes it 2,600'ish more miles?



What would you have done?

and

What does @Runs With Scissors do?



Stay tuned..........

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Do you "Roll the dice", just fill it up, and hope and pray that it makes it 2,600'ish more miles?

Ahem, no, I do not think so. As a minimum I think you have to identify where the part comes from. It's not part of a tooth, is it? Bit difficult to see on the picture.

Parts manual may help without having to open up the axle.

I hope you get it sorted and that it is not major work or expense.

 

[Orangeglow]

Dig into it now, and fix it properly before your trip. If it seizes up when you are away, you will not only be paying for a tow and very expensive parts, but labor as well. Don,t put yourself in a position were you are at the mercy of someone else, especially when you know how and can fix it yourself.

 

[BBFarmer]

Well about a year'ish ago, I am coming to a stop and this "very, very, very, faint" noise catches my attention........Just a "very, very, very slight whine" I hear on decel.

Now my "Spidy Sense's" are tingling.......but it's not that bad, and it's a 20 year old truck, with "a few miles" on her, so..........besides, I know a "little somethin-somethin" about Dodge axles from way back in The Day.

So, I just turn up the radio and "keep on rolling".......

Fast forward to June 2025.

The noise is getting a "wee bit" louder, but still not "concerning", but I have an "out west" Prairie Dog shoot coming up (~2,600 miles round trip)

So I decide to change the fluid in the axles, just for "kicks and giggles".

I don't feel like pulling the cover, so I just use my "oil sucker" to empty them.

The rear axle magnet looks "pretty good".......However both outboard axles are leaking "pretty good", and the oil has saturated my "Parking Brake", rendering it basically useless.

Here are some pics from about 6 weeks previous when I was replacing the rear pads and rotors, so I do know that there is some "axle servicing" in my "near future".

I dont have a pic, but the other side is equally as bad.

View attachment 160528






Well when I pull the front diff plug, this appears on the magnet......................


View attachment 160525


DAMN IT!!!!!!

M_________________R!!!!!!!!

So now I am at a "crossroads" of sorts.

Clearly something is wrong........But........What to do about it?

I have about 9 days before I have to leave for the trip, so ......

Do you "tear into it"?

or

Do you "Roll the dice", just fill it up, and hope and pray that it makes it 2,600'ish more miles?



What would you have done?

and

What does @Runs With Scissors do?



Stay tuned..........

That blows brother!

I can't tell what i'm looking at either. Looks too large and circular to be a piece of a shim or thrust washer.

Thats not a piece of the roll pin from the carrier is it? That got whacked and bent a little.

Is this a dana 50 by chance?

 

[Hoserman]

You have the know how and tools to do the fix so if it was me, I would do the teardown now and save yourself a lot of heartache. Last thing you want is a breakdown on the side of the road somewhere in bumscratch Egypt.

 

[Tughill Tom]

Well that's un-good> I'd be sourcing a used one and swap it out fast or tell your better half that you taking her vehicle to shoot dogs. It sucks either way.

 

[Yooper]

Pull the cover and give it a visual.

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Last thing you want is a breakdown on the side of the road somewhere in bumscratch Egypt.

That depends.

Friends in the car club were travelling through North Africa and the clutch of one of their Mercedes G-Wagons burnt out in Morocco. Three guys in sandals took out the clutch right there, relined it and assembled everything while they were having their lunch. And he said the repair cost was less than the lunch (which was cheap). I first I thought he was telling me stories until he showed me the pictures on his phone.

That was a few years ago and the G-Wagon is running fine since.

 

[MOOTS]

Pull the cover and give it a visual.

Bet he’s already elbow deep into it.

I was gonna guess c clip, but you said front axle, so rules that out. I think dodge rears are c clip, unless it’s full floater. Not that it matters.
I also would say unlock the hubs so nothing up there spins, but, you know… Dodge.

 

[NCL4701]

I would rent something to drive if I couldn’t get that fixed before a 2600 mile trip. I like hiking, but prefer to limit it to around 10 miles these days.

 

[#40Fan]

Only thing I can think of that it might be is the spider pin bolt. If the end that threads into the other side of the carrier had come out, you'd have bigger issues. Heck, getting the rest of the bolt out will be a fun time. A left handed drill bit will be your best bet.

Part 15. Called a differential screw. 5086694AA Part Discontinued.

 

[GeoHorn]

It’s metal (steel or iron) since it’s stuck to the magnet.

I’d be darned if I’d depart on a long trip without pulling the covers and seeing what’s going on.

 

[BBFarmer]

Only thing I can think of that it might be is the spider pin bolt. If the end that threads into the other side of the carrier had come out, you'd have bigger issues. Heck, getting the rest of the bolt out will be a fun time. A left handed drill bit will be your best bet.

Part 15. Called a differential screw. 5086694AA Part Discontinued.

Kind of what I was thinking.

Of course if it was, atleast a piece of the pin would have to still remain otherwise the cross shaft pin would drop immediately and the spider gears would say see ya!

image i was using #29