FOXY005
Registered User
Found this on another Diesel site, and thought it would be of interest to all 3rd Gen Owners with LSD's
The following is a S.T.A.R. Center Case Report:
Report created Jan 6 2004
Updated Jan 13 2004
Customer says his trac-rite rear diff is not working?
GCK1: 01/06/2004
Recommendation/Solution
Review AAM Trac-rite diff characteristics. Rear diff is working or truck wouldn't move. It will overrun like standard diff if operating on extreme differernces in surfaces. (Ice under one rear tire with other tire on dry pavement.) No further action.
:GCKI:01/06/2004
The 2003 heavey-duty Ram uses and American Axle helical differential or Trac-Rite. The Trac_Rite differential is different then Trac-Lok in that it uses helical gears (Trac-Lok uses clutches) to transfer power to the opposite wheel when slippage occurs. The transfer of power from wheel to wheel is torque sensitive and must have both wheels spinning (not stationary) to function. It is possible for the Trac-Rite differential to not send power to a wheel if is not spinning. Example: Accelerating from as stop and one wheel is on ice and the other on dry pavement. If accelerating to fast, the wheel on the ice may spin and never send power to the whell on the pavement side. A slower start may be necessary to start the vehicles momentum.
A written test procedure for Trac-Rite is not listed in the repair manual and the following points should be noted:
Testing the Trac-Rite differential while the vehicle is lifted and turning one wheel by hand, the opposite wheel will turn in the opposite direction. This is normal.
If the Trac-Rite assembly has and internal failure it will lock axles 100% side to side.
To test the Trac-Rite process, raise vehicle on appropriate lift, place into gear and accelerate quickly (hard launch). A second technician will witness both wheels turning at the same speed at the start of the acceleration.
Another test for Trac-Rite is to slowly drive vehicle in an open area and completely turn wheels to one direction and accelerate hard.. The vehicle will experience tire hop or shudder. This is normal. Trac-Rite differentials do not require friction modifier and should be used only with SAE75W-90 GL-5 synthetic fluid PN 05102232AA.
The Trac-Rite differential found in the American Axles may look like the helical gears have ground away the case. Six small half circles are noticable on the side of the differential opposite of the ring gear. These openings are desinged for oil flow and are not the result of the helical gears grinding through the differential. Please do not replace the differential case or any other part of the axle due to these openings.
Note: All American Axles require Mopar lube part# 05102232AA synthetic and does not use a friction modifier.
RAB40: 01/13/2004
Looks like both rear wheels must be rotating for it to operate properly , so not much help starting out on a slippery surface in 2WD.
Nothing like the old positraction with clutches the way I read it.
The following is a S.T.A.R. Center Case Report:
Report created Jan 6 2004
Updated Jan 13 2004
Customer says his trac-rite rear diff is not working?
GCK1: 01/06/2004
Recommendation/Solution
Review AAM Trac-rite diff characteristics. Rear diff is working or truck wouldn't move. It will overrun like standard diff if operating on extreme differernces in surfaces. (Ice under one rear tire with other tire on dry pavement.) No further action.
:GCKI:01/06/2004
The 2003 heavey-duty Ram uses and American Axle helical differential or Trac-Rite. The Trac_Rite differential is different then Trac-Lok in that it uses helical gears (Trac-Lok uses clutches) to transfer power to the opposite wheel when slippage occurs. The transfer of power from wheel to wheel is torque sensitive and must have both wheels spinning (not stationary) to function. It is possible for the Trac-Rite differential to not send power to a wheel if is not spinning. Example: Accelerating from as stop and one wheel is on ice and the other on dry pavement. If accelerating to fast, the wheel on the ice may spin and never send power to the whell on the pavement side. A slower start may be necessary to start the vehicles momentum.
A written test procedure for Trac-Rite is not listed in the repair manual and the following points should be noted:
Testing the Trac-Rite differential while the vehicle is lifted and turning one wheel by hand, the opposite wheel will turn in the opposite direction. This is normal.
If the Trac-Rite assembly has and internal failure it will lock axles 100% side to side.
To test the Trac-Rite process, raise vehicle on appropriate lift, place into gear and accelerate quickly (hard launch). A second technician will witness both wheels turning at the same speed at the start of the acceleration.
Another test for Trac-Rite is to slowly drive vehicle in an open area and completely turn wheels to one direction and accelerate hard.. The vehicle will experience tire hop or shudder. This is normal. Trac-Rite differentials do not require friction modifier and should be used only with SAE75W-90 GL-5 synthetic fluid PN 05102232AA.
The Trac-Rite differential found in the American Axles may look like the helical gears have ground away the case. Six small half circles are noticable on the side of the differential opposite of the ring gear. These openings are desinged for oil flow and are not the result of the helical gears grinding through the differential. Please do not replace the differential case or any other part of the axle due to these openings.
Note: All American Axles require Mopar lube part# 05102232AA synthetic and does not use a friction modifier.
RAB40: 01/13/2004
Looks like both rear wheels must be rotating for it to operate properly , so not much help starting out on a slippery surface in 2WD.
Nothing like the old positraction with clutches the way I read it.
