Drive axle spring-pack 4500 vs 5500

[Ragain]

Friday, October 19th 2007. I was on the I-15 south thru Victoville, CA. and noticed Victorville Chrysler/Jeep had several 4500 and 5500 chassis cabs sitting out by the freeway. I decided to get a better look because I didn't have much time to look at the two test mules I had seen in WY. last spring.

Although none of the units in Victorville were 4WD, I did see that both the 4500 and the 5500 had the same drive axle spring-packs. The part # that was stenciled on each was identical. Does anyone know if this may have been an assembly mistake, or do both classes of this truck use the same sping-pack? I would think the 5500 should have heavier springs or a couple of leafs more than the 4500.

 

[HBarlow]

Ragain,



That's strange. I agree with your comment that the spring packs should be different. My new '08 Dodge Ram brochure shows the front GAWR of 4500 and 5500 c&c trucks is 7,000 lbs. The GAWR for the rear axle is listed as 12,000 lbs. for a 4500, 13,500 lbs. for a 5500. Both models use the same tire so the difference has to be in the spring packs.



Harvey

 

[TAbbott]

HBarlow said: "... . so the difference has to be in the spring packs. "



Based on what's been posted above, I'd say the difference is on the sticker. Wouldn't be the first time that has happened. Or, maybe the 4500 actually has a lighter axle.

 

[HBarlow]

Maybe the spring packs look the same, have the same number of leaves, but very fine differences in the thicknesses of some or all of the leaves make the difference.



Harvey

 

[Ragain]

TAbbot, The diffs had a metal tag affixed to the front of the axle housing. I didn't climb under to see if they were a different model #, but there sure wasn't any visible difference on the outside.

HBarlow, the spring-pack on both measured the same in height. Still, I don't understand why they might be different wearing the same code # stenciled on top. ???

Maybe there was just a cost difference.

I was dying for a test drive to check for ride stiffness, but the fleet sales rep was gone and the sales mgr said the rest of the sales staff were prohibited from dealing in the commercial division.

 

[2broke2smoke]

maybe the number on top was just the main leaf part #?

 

[TAbbott]

Well, from a manufacturing and parts stocking perspective, the more commonality between the trucks and the fewer parts to stock equates to less cost for Chrysler and the dealerships... It's entirely possible the only material difference between the two trucks is the door sticker.

 

[Dishman Dodge]

Pictures of Spring pacs.

Top picture is a 4500, bottom 2 are a 5500 spring pac. Tough to see a visible difference in the pictures, however, there is a noticable difference in the way the overload pad is attached to the frame. I don't have these two trucks side by side - one was in Portland and the other is Jelag's 5500 that came in yesterday.

Rob Croswhite

509. 435. 7761

 

[NIsaacs]

I can't see the difference in the overload mount, other then one picture shows the front and one shows the rear.



I think the difference is in the rear axle, the 5500 uses a larger ring gear.





"NICK"

 

[Dishman Dodge]

The top two pictures show the front of the 4500 and 5500 spring mounts.

Rob Croswhite

 

[TAbbott]

Dishman Dodge said: "The top two pictures show the front of the 4500 and 5500 spring mounts. Rob Croswhite"



Better look again Rob. In the 2nd picture you can see the spare tire behind the rear axle and the back of the cab. It's obviously a picture of the rear spring mount. And, since you can see the prop shaft in the first picture, its equally obvious that's it's a picture of a front mount.

 

[CUMMINZ]

2007 Dodge RAM 3500I was told by a Ford dealer that the new Fords had different housings for the 4. 30 & 4. 88. The 4. 88 had larger housing. Maybe the same for the 4500/5500??





Mr. Ragain... . "RIDE" Both these trucks will absolutely ride like a washboard till you get a load on them and they will then be a dreamboat.





If you want to compair these photos to a 3500 Chassis Cab please look at: 2007 Dodge RAM 3500

 

[Dishman Dodge]

Your right, I'll have to wait tell our 4500 comes next month. To get a better look.

Rob Croswhite

 

[CUMMINZ]

Rob,



Can you look at the 5500 that is there and see what the stamped wheel capacity is?



Thanks



CUMMINZ

 

[Dishman Dodge]

3,800 lbs.

 

[SnoKing]

Well if it is going to pull a 5th wheel you would want an air ride stuck under the back away! SNOKING

 

[Burner]

The 5500 spring pack has longer stepper springs. If you see the 4500/5500 springs you'll see that the 4500 starts with a shorter spring. I did not measure them but the thickness 'might' be different as well. I'll post some pics when I get to my other computer.

 

[Burner]

See anything different?

 

[Cattletrkr]

Does the top pic have one more spring? Kinda hard to tell.

 

[Burner]

I don't believe so. The bottom pic should have a short leaf at the bottom. The all-terrain tired truck is the 4500 and the ribbed hwy tired truck is the 5500. I drove both and they a just dang scary @ 70-75 MPH on the innerstate without a bed.