07.5 rear diff issues

[CUMMINZ]

I have 90k now on my 07.5.. I do not abuse it but do tow 20k+ every now and then. I noticed about 80k the rear diff fluid was looking milky or a little silver. It also had some very small pieces of metal in it. We drained the diff. Just today we drained it again and same thing. What might be the problem? Spider gears or ring gear? Your thoughts.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Bearings.........

 

[JR]

Are you using a 140 weight?

 

[CUMMINZ]

Are you using a 140 weight?

Whatever the dealer put in it.

 

[Hoefler]

Bearings and ring and pinion if too late. A bad bearing will take out the ring and pinion if run very long or ran loaded.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Silver oil is almost always a bearing........rollers coming apart.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Went into today and had recall fixed. Pulled transmission pan and teck serviced transmission. Picture shows almost no sludge or dirt in pan. That is good after 50k miles of pulling. Teck pulled rear diff. Noticed still more steel chips on magnetic drain plug. Immediately noticed ring gear and pinion are in great shape but spider gears are very bad.

 

[mpaulson]

I had the same thing happen on my 07.5, the helical gears chipped up. From there it was rebuilt 3 times due to poor workmanship on the mechanics part!! first rebuild it howled too much, second still howled and the third, dipstick didn't put the retaining nut on properly one of the hubs and the nut backed off and it burn't up and melted the hub cap, snapped the shaft to that side and ruined the splindle.
Better be sure you trust the tech doing the rebuild.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Why do you think gears are chewing up?

 

[mpaulson]

I think maybe torque while turning.

 

[mpaulson]

I believe that I remember when they first came out with the "Max Tow" in 2011(I think)I heard that they had upgraded these gears for the increased power and tow rating which ment to me that they knew that these helical gears were a weak point for those of us who actually tow at the upper spectrum of the capacity with these trucks.

 

[CUMMINZ]

I believe that I remember when they first came out with the "Max Tow" in 2011(I think)I heard that they had upgraded these gears for the increased power and tow rating which ment to me that they knew that these helical gears were a weak point for those of us who actually tow at the upper spectrum of the capacity with these trucks.

I notice you installed rear sway bar. Does it effect ride?

 

[mpaulson]

I notice you installed rear sway bar. Does it effect ride?

Not really, just when the road has a dip on one side the truck tilts to that side when the rear axle goes into the dip, that'a about all. Otherwise, no effect that I notice.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Prices for diff carrier:

RAM dealer $2200.00
O'Reilly $1500.00
TruckPartsInc in Charlotte $800.00+

 

[Ozymandias]

Install a TrueTrac, costs the same around 900$ ans works better then the OEM.
Don't go with the cheap stuff in a HP Cummins Truck, you'll do it again.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Prices for diff carrier:

RAM dealer $2200.00
O'Reilly $1500.00
TruckPartsInc in Charlotte $800.00+

Country of origin???

 

[CUMMINZ]

I got some great news today. Visited my local RAM dealer. He printed out all the specs on my vin # and printed pic of rear diff and all part numbers. He came down from $2200.00 to $1800.00 .. He gave me employee discount. I personally visited Truck Parks Inc. in Charlotte and he did the numbers again and looked at my pic from dealer and I showed him the video I took of diff in motion with carrier turning. He said the pic from dealer was NOT the diff in my truck. He said I had a DSA carrier and said he suggested I step across the street to a repair shop which he highly recommended.. Repair shop said he would install all four new bearings/races/seals and new carrier for $350.00.. New carrier and bearing kit (TracRite GT) Helical gear limited slip for $1100.00. He is doing the job Monday.


TracRite® GT - Helical Gear Limited Slip Differential



AAM produces a wide variety of differential cases and assemblies for the aftermarket. Each is designed to the exacting specifications of the OEM vehicle manufacture. Each differential assembly is built to OEM specs because they are the same units made for OEM production use. The TracRite® GT is a helical gear designed limited slip style differential. The torque bias is proportional to the throttle, providing a smooth application of torque to the wheels. Since this differential uses helical gears, there are no clutch plates to wear and no friction additives are needed. The TracRite® GT is compatible with ABS, traction and stability control systems. When you want your vehicle to perform like the OEM it is, use the OEM replacement parts made by the original manufacture.

Features:
•Before differentiation occurs, gear radial and thrust forces generated by the torque on the gears cause frictional forces in the differential between the gear to gear interfaces and gear to case interfaces
•Once the frictional forces are overcome, differentiation will occur
•The torque will be continually biased, by the frictional forces, to the high traction wheel
•Torque bias ratio is tunable by modifying helical gear geometry
•Torque to turn (pre-load) is tunable by adjusting the amount of spring pre-load
•Increases traction effort on high mu wheel through the multiplication factor of the TBR. Higher TBR of limited slips increases the amount of torque that can be transferred
•Compatible with ABS, traction and stability control systems
•Applicable to front or rear axles, and transaxle / transmissions