American axle

[Don M]

Whats with dropping the Dana axles and going with these American Axle corporation ones? I have always loved my Dana axles in all my Rams. Anyone know anything about the American Axle Corporation?



I do like the new NV271 and NV273 transfer cases though. Fords have had them for awile now. Bout time the Rams got them too.



Don~

 

[Jff24Gordn]

All I know of american axle is the ceo has given $5 million to purdue, including $3 million a month ago.

 

[joesoot]

Choose:

http://www.americanaxle.com/technology/tech_prod_dl_rearaxle.html

maybe the cast iron 1150 rear?

and the 1050 in front?

http://www.americanaxle.com/technology/tech_prod_dl_frontaxle1050.html

 

[CharlieMiller]

From my understanding but I may be wrong Dana & DC had a falling out and parted ways. So in comes American like it or not.

 

[Mr. Brewski]

The Duracan trucks use 11. 5" American Axles in the rear. I'm not sure how they are built inside, whether or not they have an extra pinion support bearing like a 10. 5" 14 bolt.



I heard that DC was pi$$ed at Dana...

 

[kmiller]

american was GM

I don't remember when, but GM decided to sell off some of their parts manufactoring, and the axle group became AA Manufactoring. The web site is aam.com They nave some interesting traction diffs. Like to see if any end up in the Rams.

PS Dana is struggling and AAM is one parts supplier that is growing and prospering in these tough times - can't hurt when DC jumps on board.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

D/C had a problem with Dana axles on the Jeep Grand Cherokee. What happened is that they quieted the truck down so much that people could hear gear whine in the rear end that wasn't a problem on the previous truck. The noise level on the older Grand Cherokee was loud enough that you couldn't hear it. Dana wouldn't fix it because they didn't think it was a problem. Also D/C required that their suppliers change their CAD system to the same one that they use and Dana didn't want to do that so they were canned.

 

[TxDieselKid]

Don, what do you think?

Wonder how well American Axles will work with Amsoil?



I think that D/C will end up wishing they had Dana, I know I would.



Andrew

 

[Barry]

DC and American: Please give us a 3:73 and 3:90 ratio option.

 

[BV]

New Axel Company

Sure hope this change will allow the 3. 7 ratio to be available for us middle of the road folks.

 

[JR2]

Go read steves article, it says 3. 7 and 4. 1 rear ends...

 

[TSielski]

How the differentials are built will be revealing, however axle shaft and tube size/thickness are also extremely important in determining the ultimate load capacity of an axle. (As well are the material and construction of the center section)

The following dimensions are taken from the Dynatrac website:

Dana 70 - 3. 625" tube diameter, . 565" tube wall thickness

Dana 80 - 3. 625" tube diameter, . 625" tube wall thickness

GM Corp FF 14 bolt - 3. 5" tube diameter, . 375" wall thickness

Axle shafts for all three are 1. 5" in diameter

Our 2500 manual transmission Rams and 3500's used a hybrid axle consisting of the Dana 80 center section and Dana 70 tubes.



The supposed 11. 5" ring gear diameter of this new AA rear axle will be nice, but if the tube diameter and wall thickness are from the FF 14 bolt, we will likely have what amounts to a weaker axle assembly.

I'm hoping some of this information will be released with the specifications of these new trucks.



-tim

 

[ulhpilot]

To answer the question about American Axle (Corporate) and Amsoil, I have 125K on my '92 10. 5" 14 bolt with posi-traction and have been running Amsoil 75W-90 gear lube (no modifiers added) since around 25K miles. I have had no problems with the rear diff during it's 10 years of highway/city/off-road and boat towing life. I would not be surprised if the clutch pack is getting worn, however. I would suspect the '03 2500/3500 Rams will be getting the new 11. 5 rear and the 10. 5 on the front, unless American Axle comes up with something proprietary for the Rams.

Mick

 

[kmiller]

3.73

don't forget the larger wheel size, I haven't done any calcs until I find out tire size, but with the larger diameter the 3. 73 may be similar to the old setup with the 3. 54.

 

[TowPro]

Re: Don, what do you think?

Hell, I want 3:08's in my next truck. I run a 2wd, with 3. 08's I could use 1st, and still run 75 in the lower RPM bands.

Originally posted by TxDieselKid

Wonder how well American Axles will work with Amsoil?



I think that D/C will end up wishing they had Dana, I know I would.



Andrew