low speed turning noise, limited slip?

[tlevan03]

This was the first weekend we towed with our new to us 2017 3500 drw. I noticed at low speeds, especially turning right and backing, that the truck felt like I was in 4 low. Im assuming this is just the limited slip engaging? I just hit me off guard. I havent noticed it without the trailer hooked up. Our last 2500 had a open diffe. Thanks in advance!

 

[lpennock]

2017 LSD is a torsen style. You shouldn't feel any real difference between it and the open diff you're use to. Sure you didn't have 4x4 engaged?

 

[tlevan03]

2017 LSD is a torsen style. You shouldn't feel any real difference between it and the open diff you're use to. Sure you didn't have 4x4 engaged?

When I first felt it that was immediately what i thought. It was first noticeable when i came to the end of a off ramp and turned right from a slow roll.

 

[mpaulson]

Your diff oil is done and needs to be changed out. Give it some fresh oil and you should be good. The "spent" oil issues show up while towing and turning as you just described.
If it still does it afterwards, (I'm gonna start an oil/don't need war here, because it actually technically doesn't need it) but then add a tube of the Mopar friction modifier to the oil and the chatter will go away. My local dealer has been doing this for a decade in their shop. If it doesn't then you might have a bigger issue, but very time I change the diff oil (even with OEM)and don't put in the modifier, next time I tow, I've got chatter.

 

[AH64ID]

Your diff oil is done and needs to be changed out. Give it some fresh oil and you should be good. The "spent" oil issues show up while towing and turning as you just described.
If it still does it afterwards, (I'm gonna start an oil/don't need war here, because it actually technically doesn't need it) but then add a tube of the Mopar friction modifier to the oil and the chatter will go away. My local dealer has been doing this for a decade in their shop. If it doesn't then you might have a bigger issue, but very time I change the diff oil (even with OEM)and don't put in the modifier, next time I tow, I've got chatter.

Odd that you get chatter as there aren't any clutch packs to chatter on your axle.

I agree fully with changing fluid. The OEM stuff is junk.

 

[Cummins12V98]

It’s your POS OE gear lube.

Dump it and run AMZ/OIL 75/90 or 75/110 and your troubles will be gone.

 

[tlevan03]

Sounds good guys. Thank you. Truck has 80k on it. I’ll change it before we tow next month. So just to settle, friction modifier or not? I know it doesn’t have clutches, so is it personal preference?

 

[AH64ID]

Sounds good guys. Thank you. Truck has 80k on it. I’ll change it before we tow next month. So just to settle, friction modifier or not? I know it doesn’t have clutches, so is it personal preference?

The owners manual says that it does not require it, in bold.

I'll add that it shouldn't hurt anything, just not required.

 

[Ozymandias]

It’s your POS OE gear lube.

Dump it and run AMZ/OIL 75/90 or 75/110 and your troubles will be gone.

I wouldn't say that so harsh.
On a new axle with new gears you have always residues in the oil.
I've seen that on mine after the gear change, at the first oil change after 1000M break-in the oil just looked horrible, really horrible.

What I dont get is why RAM wants that contaminated oil to be for such a long time in the axle..... that's nonsens.

 

[gsbrockman]

Lots of information I have ascertained over the years points to the fact that the axle bearings are packed with grease to prevent any dry runs until the axle fluid has had a chance to circulate enough throughout the axle tubes.

Lots of good axle guys pack grease in bearings during rebuilds. The grease, along with the wear-in of all the critical parts, along with the added heat of break in, would make even AMZ/OIL look like crap, had AMZ/OIL been a factory (AAM) installed fluid.

 

[mpaulson]

The owners manual says that it does not require it, in bold.

I'll add that it shouldn't hurt anything, just not required.

I totally agree. Just odd that several times with fresh oil, it would do that chatter/binding on turns and the service manager adds the modifier and it’s gone instantly. So much so that they just do it on all there HD diff services. I do my own and for what the little bottles worth, I just it. This has been the case on my last three trucks, my business partners and my sisters truck. Maybe it’s our Alberta air LOL.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Maybe harsh but towing as heavy as I do and within ratings it should have done better.

 

[Blackbrush]

You don't need modifier. You need a good heavy synthetic like the heavy Amsoil, Heavy Shock from Redline or the like..... I promise this will fix you up

 

[tlevan03]

I ordered amaoil 75w-110. It should be here by the weekend

 

[Cummins12V98]

I ordered amaoil 75w-110. It should be here by the weekend

Good call! It really is a great product.

 

[NIsaacs]

I ordered amaoil 75w-110. It should be here by the weekend

Most good quality gear oil has the friction modifier included so you should be good to go on all counts.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I asked AMZ/OIL if I needed to add their SlipLoc to the rear of my 01 2500. They said I could but not needed as the SG 75-90 was all that’s needed.

 

[Ozymandias]

You don't want friction modifier in a Torsen type Differential as it interferes with the way it works.

But it doesn't harm it, so, well, it's like an open one, that's all.

 

[tlevan03]

Changed the oil out. Old oil was pretty worn with 80k on it. I drove it without the 5th wheel and didn’t notice that the binding sound. We camp in two weeks so I’ll be able to tell by then. I also had my sidekick help out. Thanks again for the help

 

[Cummins12V98]

80k on OE lube? YIKES