American Axles

[lawdog]

I spoke to my father, who did 40 years as a special machine engineer (including a lot of work with CDC on the ISB engines). hislast gi before finally retireing was as a QC engineer contracted into GM (Great Mistake). He did a lot of problem solving type and QC checks, including at American Axle. What he found was a lot of gear noise complaints, and out of spec parts. HE told me he was checking parts and found them to be double the allowable max on the specs. The people said that they always build them that way as they work just fine... ... He said well they are out of spec, so they are junk... . this happenned a couple of times at A A. When I told him that the new ram came with American Axles instead of Dana, he told me they would be sorry and that I better make my truck last a long time

 

[Bill Stockard]

In the nedium/heavy duty truck business, we had the same complaints about the Dana/Spicer axles. Noisy gearing, mis-matched ratios, out of spec bearing pre-load settings, poor quality bearings, and lots of leaking seals. Some of the Spicer components in heavy duty truck axles were built in eastern Europe.



All are built by humans and aren't perfect.



Bill

 

[BK]

geez, all the complaints from the Jeep Grand Cherokee's of gear noise was the final nail in the coffin for Dana... from what I heard, so AG won the contract... .

And it seems it wont get anybetter. . ! probably worse

 

[jwilliams3]

The real reason is price in DCX's decision to drop DANA.

Lets all face it DANA axles rule!



... ... ... A while back DC made its suppliers cut their prices forceably.

If you didnt agree, you were dropped.

 

[SteveH]

After going through 2 rear ends in my 97 I think is would be a blessing to see the AAM axles instead of the DANA. Dana never tried to solve the noise problem in the Jeeps.

Steve H.

 

[lawdog]

My dad worked as a QC Engineer for GM until he retired last year. The American AXles in Camaros and Firebirds were VERY complaint grabbing due to gear noise. . face it, It's all Junk... .

 

[JTeague]

If the new axles are the same as the 14 bolt 10. 5 ring gear that GM uses it should be a good piece. I have one in my 86 Dodge that I truck pull with and have had no problems. Most of the Pulling trucks in this area (regardless of brand use this axle) with few problems. P. S. The only reason I replaced my factory Dana 60 was because the axles would not stand the punishment, not the ring&pinion.