Dodge 2001 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual page 186

BR/BE
REAR AXLE - 248RBI (Continued)
Condition
Axle Overheating
Gear Teeth Broke
Axle Noise
REMOVAL
(1) Raise and support the vehicle.
(2) Position a suitable lifting device under the
axle.
(3) Secure axle to device.
(4) Remove the wheels and tires.
(5) Secure brake drums to the axle shaft.
(6) Remove RWAL sensor from the differential
housing, if necessary. Refer to 5 Brakes for proce-
dures.
(7) Disconnect the brake hose at the axle junction
block. Do not disconnect the brake hydraulic lines at
the wheel cylinders. Refer to 5 Brakes for procedures.
Possible Causes
1. Lubricant level low.
2. Improper grade of lubricant.
3. Bearing pre-loads too high.
4. Insufficient ring gear backlash.
1. Overloading.
2. Erratic clutch operation.
3. Ice-spotted pavement.
4. Improper adjustments.
1. Insufficient lubricant.
2. Improper ring gear and pinion
adjustment.
3. Unmatched ring gear and pinion.
4. Worn teeth on ring gear and/or
pinion.
5. Loose pinion bearings.
6. Loose differential bearings.
7. Mis-aligned or sprung ring gear.
8. Loose differential bearing cap bolts.
9. Housing not machined properly.
REAR AXLE - 248RBI
1. Fill differential to correct level.
2. Fill differential with the correct fluid
type and quantity.
3. Re-adjust bearing pre-loads.
4. Re-adjust ring gear backlash.
1. Replace gears. Examine other gears
and bearings for possible damage.
2. Replace gears and examine the
remaining parts for damage. Avoid
erratic clutch operation.
3. Replace gears and examine
remaining parts for damage.
4. Replace gears and examine
remaining parts for damage. Ensure ring
gear backlash is correct.
1. Fill differential with the correct fluid
type and quantity.
2. Check ring gear and pinion contact
pattern. Adjust backlash or pinion depth.
3. Replace gears with a matched ring
gear and pinion.
4. Replace ring gear and pinion.
5. Adjust pinion bearing pre-load.
6. Adjust differential bearing pre-load.
7. Measure ring gear run-out. Replace
components as necessary.
8. Inspect differential components and
replace as necessary. Ensure that the
bearing caps are torqued tot he proper
specification.
9. Replace housing.
(8) Disconnect the parking brake cables and cable
brackets.
(9) Disconnect the vent hose from the axle shaft
tube.
(10) Mark propeller shaft and yoke for installation
alignment reference.
(11) Remove propeller shaft.
(12) Disconnect shock absorbers from axle.
(13) Remove spring clamps and spring brackets.
Refer to 2 Suspension for procedures.
(14) Separate axle from the vehicle.
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Correction