After I get through biting the bullet on this new engine I am having installed, I want to change out the rearend on my truck. I would like to go to like an 02 rearend with disc brakes. I want to get a lower gear than the 3.55's I currently have. Did DODGE offer the 3.73 in the 02 model year? That is what I would like to go to. I will go to the 4.10 if necessary. Do you think I would have any trouble putting an 03 rearend under my truck? If I could put the 3,73's in, I wouldn't worry about changing out the front. If I put in the 4.10's, I will change the front. I would prefer to stay with DANA's I think. I don't know anything about the company DODGE has supplying the rearends, these days. I would appreciate any advice on the subject, especially from someone who has done it already. On a 99, isn't there a company that offers some upgraded front braking system(rotors & calipers)? THANKS FELLOWS!!

 

I worked on a 2000 the other day and found that it had disc brakes on the rear. Come to find out the customer had found a rear from an 01.5 in a bone yard and swapped it out to his truck. Didn't get into the details of the swap though it sounded like he pretty much just threw it in. On the gear deal if you are sticking to a stock size tire or slightly larger a 3.7 gear would be great, but you'll have to search the aftermarket for them as DC only had 3.5 and 4.1's stock. The new axle company is American Axle and the 03 started coming with 3.7 gear standard. Not sure if the DR body axle is the same measurement as your BR.

 

You are better off to stick with an 02 or ealier axle for your swap. There is just too many differences from the 03 and later axle that make it far from a bolt in swap. I don't know if 3.73's were offered in an 02 or earlier, but if you do go 3.73 you must swap your 3.54 front end to 3.73. You generally can live with a .02 - .05 difference but there is no way your t-case is going to put up with a .19 diiference in ratios for any length of time.

American Axle Manufacturing is the name of the company making the new axles for DC. I am a long time Dana fan but I give credit where it is due. This company is huge and has made axles for a long time and is ready to give Dana a run for it's money. The engineering and quality of their axles is excellent.

just my .02

 

Thanks for the info. I have been involved in mud-bogging for years, & we rarely run the same gear ratio, & have had no transfer case problems, EVER. Now on the hard top is a different story. you may be right, there may be too much of a difference. I think I will eventually put 4.10's in. I know for sure I will swap then. I will put a newer front axle in so turning rotors & such will be much easier, than pulling the hubs & all off like I have to do now. i do too much pulling, to keep turning the 3.55's, plus I am running 305 bfg's, so that won't matter much anyway. THANKS!!

 

for a 100 rpm gain is it really worth the money, i have changed from 4.10's to 3.54's with 315's for tirs because i wanted a broader towing rpm when in direct. the change from 4.10 to 3.54 yeilded about 300-350 rpm drop across the board.

As to different gear ratios how many of your mud boggers are running different ratios with chain drive t-cases. I have run different ratios in jeeps w/ D20's and D300's to keep the front clibing harder than the rear but on pavement keep em even otherwise youll strech the chain right out.

3.73's with 35's would be nice but the difference is minimal and IMO not worth the investment, especially since it raises your cruising rpms.

 

The biggest reason I am changing is to get the rear disc breaks. I also want better towing power. Lower gear is less strain on the whole drivetrain. I don't care if I lose a minor amount of fuel mileage. YES, it will be worth it. I think in the end it won't cost me that much to swap. I have a perfectly operational rearend now. So, I figure I shouldn't have any trouble getting some money back out of it. To another question, does anyone know of a rear disc conversion kit for the 99 to 01 trucks with rear drum brakes?

 

Yes the Factory rear disk brakes from an 01.5-02. They all came with disks after that and 3.54's so you wont be fighting gear ratios.

 

Is the engine in yet? How's it run?