AAM axle, Should I, or Shouldnt I?

[TCluff]

I recently purchased a set of AAM axles out of a 2003 Ram CTD 4x4 2500 QC. The truck came with an auto transmission. Should I, or Shouldnt I look at putting these under my 2000 Dodge Ram? I have conflicting opinions on this. Some say go for it, that they are good axles, others say, they are junk, dont bother. I have a hard time believing they are complete junk if Dodge ditched Dana for them. Anyway, couple reasons I am thinking about doing this are...



1. )D80 rear needs new bearings, pinion bearing and seals (blew up the spiders a year ago, and only replaced the gears, didnt have the $$$ for bearings and seals at the time, so it has gotten a little worse)

2. )D80 rear needs new brake shoes (AAM axle has disk brakes, in good condition)

3. )D60F needs hub assemblies, ball joints, axle seals, and I dont know if its the hubs, but has a nasty vibration in 4wheel drive under acceleration, plus, I found a crap load of water in the oil last oil change (hasnt been drivin in water even close to that deep??)

4. )AAM axles have good brakes on them. Have 3:73 gear ratios which I like better than the 3:55 I have now since I run 35" tires usually, and I didnt want to go to the 3:92 or 4:10 ratios for the D80, especially for how expensive the gear sets are! Axles only have 27k miles on them, compaired to my 124k on my stockers.

5. )For the most part, complete bolt in part, only thing I may have to play with is getting the rear disk brakes figured out.





So, what do you third gen guys think? Should I do it? are you happy with your axles so far?

do it, if you dont you could sell them to me for my 76 ford f-150 powered by a 501. 6 cubic inch big block ford... . :-laf

 

[Alphacowboy]

UPDATE!!!



Axles are in my yard, woohoo!



Ok, few things I have noticed...

1. ) Rear axle is the 11. 5 so I am relieved (was worried it was the 10. 5)

2. ) Axle perches on the 3rd gen are NOT in the same location as the 2nd ges like I had thought. 3rd gens are 50" from center pin to center pin, the 2nd gens are 43" pin to pin. so looks like I am going to need to move the perches or weld on some new ones. I would rather weld on a new set and not have to cut the existing ones off. Should be able to do that since they will end up about 1/2-3/4" away from the old perch.

3. ) e-brake might give me some issues, but shouldnt be to bad

4. ) all the rotors probably should be resurfaced, as they have all rusted up since sitting for a while.





Anyway, any idea where I could buy a 3" wide spring perch so I dont have to make one or cut off the existing ones? I would rather go this route if I can, thanks



Matt

 

[rbattelle]

If it were me, I'd just weld new perches on adjacent to the existing ones. As you say, that's the simplest way to do it.



As for sourcing the perches, do you have any machining capability? If so, I'd just mill a set from some steel stock. If not, check local junk yards for a junked AAM rear axle (remember GM trucks use the same axle) that can donate its perches. Failing that, you could buy some heavy-wall square-tube steel and hacksaw (or band saw) yourself arches in it to fit the axle. Then just drill the top of the perch for the pin and weld away.



What weld process are you going to use? Just curious.



-Ryan

 

[Scrappy]

what rims are on your truck now? if you have 16" rims, you can't use them with the AAM axles due to the AAM using bigger brakes. 17" is the smallest rim that will fit a 3rd gen.

 

[Alphacowboy]

what rims are on your truck now? if you have 16" rims, you can't use them with the AAM axles due to the AAM using bigger brakes. 17" is the smallest rim that will fit a 3rd gen.

already got 17" wheels! 3rd gen powerwagon alloys

 

[Alphacowboy]

more parts avail for the Dana

but for how long???? :{

 

[JRG]

you could buy some heavy-wall square-tube steel and hacksaw (or band saw) yourself arches in it to fit the axle. Then just drill the top of the perch for the pin and weld away.

This is what I would do. It is what I got from Advanced Adapters for my springover conversion. (buying them was cheep)



JRG

 

[steved]

true



but look at the problems people have been having with the 3rd gens. Ball joints, non replacable bearings, then fitment. you can replace the bearings, the entire assembly.



I never thought about problems with my 2nd gen axles. With the 3rd gen, I am worried about them.

And these are different from the dana's how? The Dana's had a TSB on them about replacing the balljoints because they wouldn't allow the steering to recenter... that was because they were never greased from the factory... and the AAM uses unit bearings that are almost like the D60F... close enough to say they are the same... and if you remember back to the early 2nd gens, they had issues with bad ujoints too... just like the AAMs...



IMO, they have had LESS problems with the AAMs than the Danas (they actually have the same problems with the same parts). Other than it isn't a grippy as the powerloc, at least the AAM LSD should never wear out. And I know the author of this thread blew his D80 up...



There is really no clear cut "winner" on the "which is better" AAM vs. Dana argument.



Although I highly doubt there will ever be an issue getting Dana parts, the AAMs are starting to catch on in the aftermarket and shortly, there should be just as many addons for them as the Danas.



steved

 

[Nate]

Why not just cut off the exisiting mounts and weld new ones on there? To me it's ultra ghetto to leave an extra set of spring perches on there. That'd be like me putting a Ford axle under my Jeep, putting all the brackets I need, but leaving all the Ford junk there... . even though I'll never need it. :-laf



For perches, you can use a hole saw in square tube to cut the radius. Use 1/4" thick stuff.

If it were me, I'd just weld new perches on adjacent to the existing ones. As you say, that's the simplest way to do it.



As for sourcing the perches, do you have any machining capability? If so, I'd just mill a set from some steel stock. If not, check local junk yards for a junked AAM rear axle (remember GM trucks use the same axle) that can donate its perches. Failing that, you could buy some heavy-wall square-tube steel and hacksaw (or band saw) yourself arches in it to fit the axle. Then just drill the top of the perch for the pin and weld away.



What weld process are you going to use? Just curious.



-Ryan

 

[steved]

Im am no big expert here



but my experience with both trucks is I am no looking into repairing my front axle. The other issue with the newer doges has been the U-Joints. I am looking into them as well at 30K



Never even got close to that with the 2nd Gen



I am also speaking most about the front axle and the bearings and bushing components.



The rear alxe has been great.



If you can build a AAM cheaper go for it.

And as I pointed out, the D60F suffered the EXACT SAME problems along its tenure.



One is not clearly better than another... my dad and I both had 99s, he went through balljoints (ALL OF THEM) at 86k... mine were still going at 200k... his 95 toasted BOTH ujoints by 25k... his 99's are still good with 250k.



I have 86k on my 2004. 5, and while I did the dynatrac upgrade, one joint was bad, but I am on original balljoints and I believe I could have went a long time on the front unit bearings.



IMO, I'd take the AAM stuff, just because he already has it and isn't scared of a little fabrication.



steved

 

[Luken]

any idea where I could buy a 3" wide spring perch so I dont have to make one or cut off the existing ones? I would rather go this route if I can, thanks

I firgured www.bluetorchfab.com would have some 3" wide but it looks like all they have is 2 1/2.

 

[BILLVO]

The 11. 5 is a lot stronger than the D80 the 10. 5 is almost equal to a D80 so the worrys of getting a 10. 5 would not be that bad. Having worked at a gear shop for a few years once anyone rebuilds and sets up an AAM I guarantee that everyone would want to upgrade to AAM for the ease of servicability over the Danas. I have no experience with the front AAM axles though. General motors has ran AAM's for years already, commonly mistaken for the older and very similar corperate axle.

 

[steved]

Cool



Do you like your Dyantrac setup?

Works good... easy install (short pulling the unit bearings off).



steved

 

[ACoffel]

I agree with STEVED that the AAM axles are in no way inferior to the Danas . While

I am a huge fan of the old king pin Dana 60 front axle and even have a few of them,

I realize that the Dodge Dana 60s used thru 02' with their axle disconnects and ball

joints don't compare in strength and reliability. The GM 14 BOLT 10. 5" rear axle is

probably the most durable axle EVER made and guess who built it ? It was originally

made by a division of GM ( maybe EATON) which later became called AAG and now AAM. I believe that if the 11. 5 had the extra pinion support bearing that the old 10. 5

had , it would be king of the light duty truck rear axles. While the AAM 9. 25"ring gear

front axle is 1/2" short of the Dana at 9. 75" , I beleve it will still be fairly dependable,

but only time will tell. One thing is for sure any sold axle is better than some WIMPY IFS.

In regards to the spring pads, have you tried CONFERR. They used to have lots of fab parts like this, but I don't know if they are still in business.