Help me on new truck. 11.5 rear end?

[madmax4688]

Ok I just sold my 99 on ebay and I'm sad to see her go... but with 183k it was time. I have just beat the living s*** out of 7 dealers looking for my next truck and found... . uhh... 1 that I like short of ordering it and waiting 4 months. I wanted posi 4. 10's like my 99 but this one says it has an 11. 5 rear axle. Now is that refering to the rear diff size? And what is the normal rear diff 10. 5? whats the big advantage. This doesnt have the 4. 10's but the 3. 73's but doesnt say it on the window sticker. Would a 1" bigger diff make that noticable of a difference? any help would be great. Also having owned a 99 and not knowing much about the third gens how are the 06's? any ball joint problems or is that fixed now. I am making the new owner of my 99 become a member as part of the sale! :-laf

 

[Brock]

the 06 come with an 11. 5 inch rear end... that is size of the pumpkin. you can get them with 4. 10 or 3. 73 gears. Bigger is better for durability...

 

[silverram03]

I think the 10. 5" rear end is only available on the Hemi's?

 

[cerberusiam]

The 11. 5" is the size of the ring gear. The AAM 11. 5's are a heavy duty piece. Posi trac is not the same. It is now a Torenson type TQ bias setup. The 06's were supposed to have a little better suspension and better ball joints but basically the same as the 05's. Mileage and power is the big difference from your 99. The manuals only have a . 79 OD and the highest gear is 3. 73. They will not do what the 99 did for mileage at the same speed. The autos are still . 69 OD and seem to do better across the range for mpg. Its a zero sum game.



Saw the snowplow in your sig. Word is even with the snowplow prep your warranty is void if you put the plow on.

 

[madmax4688]

Thanks for the info. As far as warrenty voiding w/plow... . my dealer offered to put the plow on before I picked it up. I would have to hope they would then hand me the keys to my new out of warrenty truck!?! oh yeah I havent picked the truck up yet I get it on thursday. My 99 is getting picked up on Wed.