Ring Gear Wear

[jeepin4x4james]

My tow rig has been down for 10 months while I debated on what to do… finally decided to go all in and fix/upgrade and got it back up and running (after $25k in new engine, turbo, injectors, etc) and I’ve got a fairly loud bearing noise… pulled rear diff plug, lots of fuzzies & some bearing flakes. F

I was hoping to get away with just doing new bearings.

Here’s what the ring gear looks like:



What do you think? Run it? Change while I’m there?
I’m just so pissed off with how the engine repair has gone that I really don’t want to spend $5 more on anything with this turd… I also don’t want a catastrophic failure the 1st or 3rd time I tow..

*it’s a 2011 ram 3500 AAM 11.5 SRW 3.73 for reference.

 

[STAG]

Man, that thing had to be getting hot 🥵

 

[Greg]

I don't think that's salvageable, I'd spring for a new set of gears and bearings... and thoroughly cleaning out the housing.

 

[jeepin4x4james]

Ya… farming for a couple years towing around equipment over 30k lbs has caught up with me. I probably shoulda just gotten rid of it after the engine fire… can’t go back now though.

Biggest problem is I have a hard time leaving well enough alone… if I HAVE to do gears, I’d really like to go to 4.10’s. I also daydream of axle swapping with F450/550 axles…
I’m just tired of bleeding money into this truck.

 

[Agility Customs]

If you continue to run that gear you will have a catastrophic in short order

 

[jeepin4x4james]

Thanks for the replies.
My wife says to just fix it so we can get out camping… maybe an axle swap in the future, we’ll see.

 

[jeepin4x4james]

Anyone local stock AAM gears?

 

[Agility Customs]

I doubt anyone local would have anything for this axle

 

[jeepin4x4james]

Pinion and wheel bearings look okay… carrier bearings not so much. Looks like the races spun, wore into the side adjusters… all that Cummapart power or somethin 😏