Uh oh...

[ramthis9501]

http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac78/ramthis9501/Photos/2012-09-01_11-04-07_299.jpg
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac78/ramthis9501/Photos/2012-09-01_11-04-00_969.jpg

Wonder what this could be for... :rockit:

[Okiespaniels]

Good grief you haven't got that pig in yet?

Did you get all the rims or were there only two?

[ramthis9501]

No... Just got it last night. And I gotta return the wheels, it was late and no one felt like messing with it. So I'm just gonna pull them off and take them back.

[Okiespaniels]

Ah...probably not the right size anyway.

[916Timmy]

Whats in the rearend?

[ramthis9501]

3.92's ;)

[916Timmy]

Does it have the LSD in it?

[ramthis9501]

Yes it does! The build sheet I got off of it from Dodge said it has an "Anti-Spin Rear Differential." So I'm guessing it's more like posi-trac :)

[ramthis9501]

Got it out of the truck last night the easy way lol
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac78/ramthis9501/Photos/2012-09-02_19-54-25_377.jpg

Next on the list is to clean it up, sand it down and shoot it with the remaining black paint I have left over from doing the truck. Also going to paint the drive shaft and get rid of that ugly rust brown it's turned into.

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Careful on painting that driveshaft...if you throw it out of balance you'll really regret it.

[ramthis9501]

You think just a little paint would do that?

[Okiespaniels]

I've touched up my driveshaft several times...no issues

Now caking it on so that it drips, runs, or sags in 1/16 inch thick waves...:birgits_tiredcoffee

[916Timmy]

I would open the diff, clean it really well and put new oil in it with LSD additive.

[ramthis9501]

Ok thanks Al, I'm just going to shoot 1 or 2 coats on it and call it good.

And what's the best stuff to use to clean up the gears?

[Okiespaniels]

Brakleen or anything similar that evaporates completely.

[ramthis9501]

Got some in the shop!

[916Timmy]

Yep...brake cleaner and a good brush. Air compressor it out when you are done to get all the crap out!

[Okiespaniels]

So...have you installed it yet...?

[ramthis9501]

Gonna strip the axle today and get it ready to paint.

[ramthis9501]

Axle is pretty much stripped, just gotta find some time to paint it and do the install now

[Okiespaniels]

:smiley-face-popcorn :yawn: :birgits_tiredcoffee

[ramthis9501]

Finally got some time today!

The axle with the 3.55's is OUT!!!
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac78/ramthis9501/Photos/2012-09-18_19-35-21_779_zps8d28583c.jpg
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac78/ramthis9501/Photos/2012-09-18_19-35-32_842_zps3fec7464.jpg

It's weird seeing my truck without rear wheels...
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac78/ramthis9501/Photos/2012-09-18_19-35-51_462_zpsbd08a80b.jpg
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac78/ramthis9501/Photos/2012-09-18_19-36-00_345_zpsf7aed70a.jpg

Also, the yoke was different like you said Al; so we're just swapping drive shafts as well.
It got to dark to move on with the install, so that will comense tomorrow! Hopefully by tomorrow night, I'll be driving with badass gears :fuckyea:

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Nice bud.

[DoubleTakeDodge]

Good deal! let us know if you get to it!

[Okiespaniels]

Yokes different, reminder...so are the brakes and drums!

Actually..you should've pulled the axles and seen if the backing plates can be swapped. The newer rams use both a larger shoe and wheel cylinder diameter!

[ramthis9501]

Got the axle bolted on and have the brake lines hooked up. All that's left is putting the new brake shoes back on and swapping drive shafts.

We did run into a problem with the drivers side backing plate. The hole for the e-brake line was backwards from the original. But there was a spot for it, so we just drilled it out. Worked perfect.

Only question I have is, should I put the drums on from the 98 or the ones off the 01?

[Okiespaniels]

You'll need the drums for the '98. Your rear brakes aren now smaller (11x2).

[ramthis9501]

Cool thanks Al. By later this evening, I'll be driving it!

[myoung84]

Um, I'm not too crazy about the jack stands on top of the ramps. Seems a little sketchy to me, I'd hate for your head to get crushed...

[DoubleTakeDodge]

Um, I'm not too crazy about the jack stands on top of the ramps. Seems a little sketchy to me, I'd hate for your head to get crushed...

I just saw this too and was about to say somethin. Be careful man!!! hate for you to get crushed by the ass end of your own truck!

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

...yeah, I saw that too.

[916Timmy]

Big no no! I hope you saved money by doing all this swapping, you could have got gears for about 200 bucks. I would have gone to 4.10s for the trouble

[ramthis9501]

We've used car ramps with the jack stands plenty of times... its stable. Plus we have the floor jack under the axle now so its not going anywhere. And yes I saved alot more money then you think, at least $200

[Okiespaniels]

Um, I'm not too crazy about the jack stands on top of the ramps. Seems a little sketchy to me, I'd hate for your head to get crushed...

I just saw this too and was about to say somethin. Be careful man!!! hate for you to get crushed by the ass end of your own truck!

...yeah, I saw that too.

Big no no! I hope you saved money by doing all this swapping, you could have got gears for about 200 bucks. I would have gone to 4.10s for the trouble

I didn't say anything :favorites68: ...not that it would have mattered. Hell you can use bricks, pallets, cement blocks, even stacked 2x4's if you want...but I'm not gettin' under the farkin' truck!
I can only imagine the rave off my dad would've spewed on me or my brother if we'd have done that.
RIP pa, I got lots of stands...

I've never seen a set of steel ramps yet that can't be crushed...except ones I've welded braces into and then they weigh about 40 lbs each. It would probably be a good idea to take some of the money you saved and invest in a pair of 4t or 6t stands. Ok...enough said. The rear is under the truck and no one was killed...this time.



Tim...not to downplay 4:10s...but the difference between them and 3:92s is about 140 rpm @ 65 mph. Your factory tach is probably off that much!

[myoung84]

I have these from Northern Tool. They are HEAVY and at 28" lift height, they are big enough for just about anything. I've used them the front and rear of the wagon and they are great.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200304819_200304819

[ramthis9501]

Well boys, shes done and on the ground :D
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac78/ramthis9501/Photos/2012-09-20_19-16-48_349_zpsc371a8c9.jpg

I shot the axle with some spray paint just to shine it up a bit
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac78/ramthis9501/Photos/2012-09-20_19-17-14_760_zps82b23181.jpg
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac78/ramthis9501/Photos/2012-09-20_19-17-05_700_zpsab9a4359.jpg

Also painted the drums the same color silver
http://i887.photobucket.com/albums/ac78/ramthis9501/Photos/2012-09-20_19-04-53_323_zps8abcf019.jpg

Took it for a drive and it is AMAZING how awesome it drives now. It used to be a workout getting it to 3000 rpm, now its getting there in 1st gear just lightly touching the pedal.

Went down the highway... Here's the numbers
65 mph - 1950 rpm
70 mph - 2050 rpm
75 mph - 2100 rpm

Give or take 15-25 rpm on that and it's about what it's running at.

Only thing is that the brake light and abs light are staying on... anyone know why?

I reset the pcm but it didn't help.

Overall I'm really happy with it!!

[Okiespaniels]

Did you hook up the sensor plug on the rear diff housing?

Did you let the master cylinder drain out? Your rear brakes might need re bleeding... you may have to let them free bleed (open up bleeders and not pump pedal) until the ABS system is filled. This may take some patience and some extra fluid. Might have to re do the fronts as well!

Oh..make sure you retorque your U-bolts in about 75-100 miles and then around 150.

[ramthis9501]

Yeah I think the best thing to do is swap out speed sensors because the speedo is actually acting funky to. Tomorrow, we're gonna have to back the brake shoes off because they're pretty tight against the drums. And that's probably when we'll re-bleed the brakes. Got plenty of brake fluid so it won't be a problem.

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Very nice! Now if I could just find a new full rearend for my truck with 3.92s and LSD.

[Okiespaniels]

You may have to reset your speedo for the tire size too. My conversion math suggests you're about 10 mph slower than your speedometer indicates.

[ramthis9501]

Nope the speedo is spot on, I checked it with GPS

[916Timmy]

I'm gone swap axles with Jesse next time he comes down...He'll get great mileage headed back north :)

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Seriously? I already attempted that.

[916Timmy]

I'll get him drunk at the casino! 60 bucks for an R/T axle swap :)

[fastnnuffrt]

I can see yalls plan!! Great mpg does sound nice tho haha

[Lt.Dan]

Better not let these guys get you drunk Jesse. They're liable to take your axel AND take advantage of ya. Can't turn your backs on these guys. Hahahahaha

[myoung84]

Very nice! What did you have before, 3.55?

[ramthis9501]

Very nice! What did you have before, 3.55?

Yup the open diff with 3.55's :biggun:

[ramthis9501]

Got the speed sensor swapped and it fixed the speedo! The tach was also off because of it, now it's all spot on!

The BRAKE and ABS lights are still on, but I'm pretty sure it's because the brakes need bled again. So that will be done shortly and hopefully fix the problem.

I took it down the hwy and these are the real numbers

65 mph - 1950ish
70 mph - 2100ish
75 mph - 2250ish
80 mph - 2350ish

I love it!! It has so much more get up and go it's ridiculous :rockit:

[ramthis9501]

Bled the brakes and backed the shoes off and it is working perfect! The brake line going into the block on top of the axle was leaking some so that's why it threw the codes. Tightened it up, filled it with brake fluid and it fixed the problem.

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Congrats dude.

[ramthis9501]

Thanks man. Maybe now I can keep up with you all and your Hemi's ;)

[BMRbrnSNRbrd]

Nope, lol.

[0212353]

Nope, lol.

:signs8:

[myoung84]

Maybe mine, its not fast...

[(S.M.R) 101]

Maybe mine, its not fast...

x2 lol

[ramthis9501]

Holy shit is all I can say!! These things really woke up the beast inside my truck! Max torque is supposed to be at around 3000 rpm, well I can definately feel it all there now! Compared to before, it felt laggy at 3000 with the 3.55's. Another awesome thing is MUCH FIRMER shifts. It isn't searching for a gear all the time accelerating up to 65, it just goes!

One question though, the brake shoes on the drums are still a bit tight because I can hear them rubbing and feel them when braking. We backed them off as much as they'd go... Is it safe to just keep driving until they get worn in good?

[Okiespaniels]

Are they dragging...or just barely touching? If you can turn the tires easily by hand they should be ok...

BTW you might have to adjust your ebrake. It may be too tight as well.

[ramthis9501]

Yeah I can turn them by hand pretty easily. And we already backed the e brake off to.

I'm wondering if the front calipers didn't get compressed in from messing with the back brakes, because I was feeling some shaking while going down the road earlier.

[Okiespaniels]

If you can turn them easily and they're not smelling it's probably ok.

[ramthis9501]

Alright thanks Al, guess I'll just have to break them in

[Okiespaniels]

You could always take the drums in and have 'em turned...maybe they're warped.

Yes, new ones do that...A LOT sometimes!

Btw...I believe I mentioned earlier that you should bleed all four brakes...there is a special way to do it with a RWAL system.

[ramthis9501]

Got the front brakes bled as well and there was no air in them, so it's just the back brakes rubbing on the drums. It has gotten better the more I've been driving it. There's not much noise left, so hopefully in the next couple days, the shoes will wear down enough to stop rubbing.