I've located a couple of options for swapping out my open carrier for a LS unit.

In the past I've been able to do this swap using the OEM gears and ABS ring with out having to mess with the pinion bearing preload (never removed it either) or depth on several fords. I have always had to shim to get the backlash correct however. I guess I have been lucky as I've always had good wear patterns.

Is this even possible with a 11.5 AAM? How much different is this rear end than what Ford uses?

I have to admit that I'm a converted Ford owner, and therefore my Dodge is the only non-Ford vehicle that I've owned.

Are there any good tech articles or links that are available? I have not had much luck in finding any.

 

It's real easy. The AAM uses threaded adjusters for backlash adjustment.
The only real work is pressing bearing off and on the carrier.

 

Oh, and as long as use the original ring gear you don't have to mess with pinion depth changes.

 

I did this swap on my truck almost a year ago. It is easier to buy new carrier bearings about $33 a piece then you won't have to pull the old ones and risk damaing the cages. To Install the bearings per the service manual is say to install using a hot plate, then they drop right on the carrier. The Carrier does have side adjusters to you can adjust the backlash and preload of the carrier brgs. Have fun torquing the bearing cap bolts.

The only other thing I would like to add is the FSM provides a total prelaod for the assembled pinion and ring gear w/o the axle shafts installed.

 

Thanks for the replys.

I checked with a local diff shop in my area, and the said the same thing about the pinion depth on the AAM 11.5".

So I won't need bearing shims at all for the setting up the backlash like you do on the ford axles? That's cool!

I'm not familiar with what is holding the axles to the carrier....can someone clue me in on this?

How much torque is required for the main bearing caps? 130ftlbs? What about the ring gear bolts?

Typically what I've done in the past is to heat up the ring gear, ABS ring, and bearings up in a oven to about 350F (don't tell the wife...), and then toss the carrier into the freezer for a hour or two.

Usually every thing goes together with out much "motivation".

Thanks.

 

Does anyone have any bearing part numbers for the carrier bearings?

Thanks

 

NAPA Bearing Part #'s

Cone- HM807046
Cup- HM807010

Bearing Cap Bolts
207 ft.lb.

Ring Gear Bolts
175 ft.lb.

Diff Cover has a nice reuseable gasket.
30 ft.lb.

Axle Flange
95 ft.lb.

Adjuster Lock Bolt
18 ft.lb.

The axle flanges at the hubs are the only thing holding the axles into the carrier.

 

When I set up my limited slip I checked the backlash before I took it apart and it was .008" I reset to about .0065" when i got it all back together with assembly pre-load.

You don't need to heat the ring gear just line it up right and pull it down with 2 opposing bolts. The abs ring is just a press fit onto the carrier behind the ring gear. I just used a brass drift and a hammer to install/uninstall it.

Don't heat the brgs. past 250 degs. F after that they will overheat and may distort. no need to freeze the carrier.

You will probalby need an extra set of hands to hold the carrier while you torque the ring gear bolts and also to lift the carrier assembly back into the truck.

AAM 11.5 axle specs per '06 FSM
Backlash .005"-.007"
pinion preload (used brgs) 10-20 in/lbs.
pinion preload (new brgs) 15-25 in/lbs.
total assy preload (new brgs) 30-50 in/lbs.
total assy preload (used brgs) 25-45 in/lbs.
brg cap bolts 207 ft/lbs
ring gear bolts 175 ft/lbs

 

They show up as the pinion bearings for the rear axle....are they the same as the ones on the carrier?

Napa only shows the carrier bearings for the 10.5" AAM axle...as is the same for every parts house website that I can find on the net. Obviously I'm interested in the ones for the 11.5" rear.

 

I managed to find a pretty neat article on DP.

Granted, the install is on a GMC, but the article is focused on the 11.5" rear.

In the article it mentions a special spanner wrench for setting the back lash... the photo doesn't show the wrench that good. What size or type is it? Will I be able to use something else that I could fabricate?

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/g...wap/index.html

 

Maybe in order to avoid conflict with the wife you could put these parts in the microwave rather than stinking up her oven with burning oil etc.

 

Uhh, it definately would be a pretty spectacular arc light show...

 

Now that's funny right there...I don't care who you are!

 

Just put a pinion seal in the rear,thought it was pretty basic till I drove it. When I let off the exc. I now get a howl from the rear diff. Under load it's just fine, only when I let off it howls.(what did I do wrong?)2005 Ram 2500 4x4 diesel quad cab. Any sugestions ??? Thanks much Rick.... HELP

 

Well,sounds like I might have got in a hurry.R&R the seal(everthing went fine) after putting the nut on to pull the flange into the seal,stopped, went to the book for torque spec and bingo none.Can I start from the begining with in. lb. preload. Zuki Dan's spec's. Can you define total assy preload for me? Wondering weather I will ever have a quite rear diff. again? Thanks for any help in advance I can get. Thanks again Rick.