Mark_07

I've got a '04' cummins dually/6 sp. manual with 16 k miles. At low speeds bad vibration in the rear end, but when I step on it, and at higher speeds, it's fine. My gut tells me it's either bad spider gears in the rear chuck, or if I'm lucky, maybe just a bad wheel bearing. Anybody know how their rear-ends have been holding up? I heard they stopped using Dana rear ends and started using some new company... anyone know how this new company's product is? I've treated the truck great, even changed both front and rear end fluids, however, I did put a chip in it. Any ideas as to whether or not Dodge will pull some crap with me and say the warranty is now void? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Mark.

SkyHarborCowboy

Just make sure to take the chip out before you take it to the dealer.

Joe

Stormin

Sounds like the u-joints. Check them out first. Those will go way before the spider gears. And AAM makes awsome axles. If you have ever heard of Corporate 14, thats what these axles are. Unfortunately I, like most of us, have the 11.5 ring gear that leaves us with very little options for gear sets, posi's, and lockers. But its their most durable axle on the market.

T398

As stormin mentioned I would look at u joints and the carrier bearing. I beleive there is a tsb on dropping the carrier also but can't remeber the number off the top of my head. U joints are pretty common culprit for vibrations in our trucks.

cowboy133

I agree with the majority. sounds like u joints or bearings. Pull the cover and check the spiders you will see if a tooth in missing.

ptgarcia

Another vote for U-joints. If they need to be replaced you may be better off going with a stronger after-market unit than with the factory pieces. Good luck!

C Schomer

I had a Corporate 14 bolt in an old Chev 1T C&C. Is it exactly the same as our 11.5 AAMs? It was fine with that 400 SB. It's not so fine with the CTD in my 03 but I blame DC for leaving the lube 2" low. Craig

nickleinonen

our 11.5" aam is nearly identical to the gm 11.5" aam currently used in their HD trucks

ataboy9026

I dont think there is any way its the spider gears. Try the joints like everyone else suggests or the carrier brng. The only thing in the rear end it may be is a bad pinion bearing, but if its that bad it will be leaking from the pinion seal.

bigdav160

Well it can't be spider gears because this rear end (assuming it's limited slip) doesn't have them. Besides, going straight ahead the spider gears are doing absolutely nothing. Bad axle bearings and carrier bearings make a very noticable growling noise. Vibration would be a very unusual complaint. U-Joints would be my first thought.

The GM corporate 14 was a 10.5 gearset. Most of the DC CTD powered trucks use the 11.5 gear as well as the GM Duramax trucks.

C Schomer

That corporate 14 was nearly indestructable behind any gasser in the prediesel days. I'm glad we have an 11.5 now. The 11.0 Dana 80 has all it can take in my 97. I don't think the butthead first owner of my 03 ever checked the boxes. Pinion and carrier brgs are at nearly 0 preload in only 25k miles. It's still quiet so of coarse DC won't warranty it. Craig

Equalizer 2

A quick easy check to start with on the U-joints is to look for a line of grease slung in line with the U-joint across the underside of the truck. I had to take mine in twice as the dealer "could not duplicate" the problem. Finally with the rubber boot missing I could point it out very easily. The first time I looked I didn't realize that the grease line should not have been there, I was used to greasing U-joints and the grease line was part of the maintenance. Our trucks have non-greasable U-joints so there should NOT be any grease showing on the underside of the truck.

Jerry R

An '04 with only 16k? I guess you don't drive it much. I would take it to the dealer.