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Kurt Thomas
Dodge Dakota
7/25/2001
22:51:49
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 Subject: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
I own a 2001 QC 5.9 sport with the 3.92 sure grip axle. The rear end started whining at 7,330 miles. I took it in and they said the housing was warped. Had 5 thousandths lash at one point and 180 degrees from there it had fifteen thousands of lash. So they replaced the rear end. Problem solved at least I thought. Drove it around town for a thousand miles no noises all ok. Hooked up my trailer 4,375 lb and left to go on a 300 mile trip made it around 80 miles and started smelling burnt gear oil. Pulled over and as soon as I turned the wheel to go into the truck stop it started clunking. Drove it to the dealer 10 miles away and the rearend was smoking. That dealer put another rearend in and it is working fine, but I have not pulled the trailer again.
That is my story and what I was wanting to know is if anyone else is have problems with their rearends or am I just having bad luck. Oh yeah almost forgot truck is rated to be able to tow up to 6,300 lbs so the trailer is not over weight.
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Boomer
Dodge Dakota
7/30/2001
14:19:55
|  RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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I've talked with a couple of different Dodge mechanics, they all agree that if you are going to do ANY kind of trailer towing, use synthetic oils in the diffs. For some reason the Dak diffs are crappy when it comes to towing without the synthetic.
IMHO
Boomer
97 CC 5.2
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Kurt Thomas
Dodge Dakota
7/30/2001
19:46:28
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
All I have to say is that we are going to take it for another run this weekend and if it does it again I will be getting a new truck. The only thing that sucks is the fact that I love the truck and if does it again I don't belive I will be getting another Dakota I will probaly end up with a full size. Unless the same thing is happening with the full size. Just really tired of the hassle. The wife is really pissed cause I switched her from Chevrolet to Dodge and we never had any problems with her Chevy truck. Just had to vent.
Kurt 98 neon R/T
01 Dakota quad cab 5.9
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BillArf
Dodge Dakota
7/31/2001
09:05:03
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
Curious, are you using use synthetic oils in the diffs as recommended buy Dodge if you are towing?
Bill in NY
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donho
Dodge Dakota
7/31/2001
15:28:44
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
The Dodge Dakota rear ends are terrible for towing of any kind. I am in the process of deciding whether to trade in my '99 or try getting it fixed.
I am leaning toward the full size truck, but are the rear ends the same style with the same issue?
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y22man
Dodge Dakota
7/31/2001
17:28:20
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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I have a 2000 cc 4.7 stick. 3.90 gears LSD. I tow a 22 foot house trailer. I towed the trailer from Salt Lake city to Lake Mead(las vagas). About 4000 pounds loaded. That is a guess. There are some pretty good climbs along the way. From vegas to Salt Lake it is pretty much up hill the whole way. it is about 900 miles round trip. I have had no problems. I also pull a flat bed trailer with 4 atvs on it. Trailer about 2000 lbs. 1500 lbs in atvs. no problems yet. That is my expirence.
Jay
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Mar
Dodge Dakota
8/08/2001
21:23:58
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
THe dodge rear ends are built like tanks and are built twice as strong as chevys. Ive towed about 3000 pounds every 3rd weekend or so for 2 years now with out any problems on the original fluid. I suspect either really bad luck or somthing else on the truck is broken causing the rear end to break that the dealer overlooked. ANd no the ram uses a diffrent style stronger. It will easily tow your 4375lb trailer.
Marty
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BB2DAK
Dodge Dakota
9/18/2001
09:44:46
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
I have a 4.7 5-speed with 3.55 LSlip.
I do pull trailers with my Dak. Either a
pop-up camper, or a Boy Scout Trailer
( > 3500 lbs when loaded), and I've never had
a problem with my Dak. I currently have 9000 miles on it.
What synthetic gear lube would you recommend
to put in the rear differential, and the
5-speed gearbox ?
With the Limited Slip Rear end, I have read that
you must add friction modifiers to allow the LSlip
to work correctly.
Is this true, and where would you get them to
add to the synthetic fluid ?
2001 Quad Cab SLT+ 4.7L 5-Speed 3.55 Lslip
K&N Drop-in, Garnet Red ARE Cap,
ArmaCoat Sprayed in Bed-liner
http://www.dodgedakota.net/albums/viewer/101.htm
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neonrt
Dodge Dakota
9/18/2001
20:41:41
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
Well the rear end made it through a trip without smoking. The dealer put in synthetic gear oil under customer satisfaction. They also aligned, rotated and balanced the tires, and washed the truck. The shop forman said that the gear oil was $30 a quart and the viscosity ratings were higher but I cannot remember what the ratings are. All I know is that it worked. The rear end did not even get hot to the touch. Now I just have to find some gas milage. Later.
Kurt 98 neon R/T
01 Dakota QC 5.9
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tweher1
Dodge Dakota
10/19/2001
20:46:27
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
Got a 2000 Dakota 4.7liter engine, 3.55 diff and LSD; it has about 25,000 miles on it now, but have had it to the dealer 5 times for a growling rear end. After having driven for at least 30 minutes at highway speeds, come to an intersection/off ramp traffic light, and wait for at least 30 seconds, then accelerate thru the intersection either right or left, the rear end growls/thuds loudly for at 1 to 2 seconds. Dealer had added special fluids/synthetic fluids/changed out the clutches and added fluids/and today changed out the fluids again, stating this time that I need to go to the Schedule B service since Florida is considered a severe climate and will require me to change out the rear end fluid every 12,000 miles. I need help from anyone that has a fix to this problem, as I don't want to give up the truck as I really like the way it handles, and meets my needs. My last alternative is to declare the lemon law, which paper work has already been submitted with DC and the state of Florida. I have another 2 months to make a decision and take DC on, since it won't be easy.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
Tom W.
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Tom Rhoades
Dodge Dakota
10/19/2001
21:40:42
|  RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
I have a 93 5.2 a/t. I drove mine from tampa FL to Knoxville Tn 3 or 4 times pulling a 5x8 utility trailer full of equiptment. I didn't have any problems with the rear end and it has stock fluid and never had a problem with a stock rearend.
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Webtiger
GenIII
10/20/2001
14:48:53
|  RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
I haven't had any problems with towing and I've got stock fluid in my rear-end. Even asked the dealer a couple of times if I needed to change it and the service guy and 2 different techs said no.
I guess, like Tom, I'm just lucky and got a good rear end in the beast
Ken Grierson
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2WD
Dodge Dakota
10/22/2001
00:56:05
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
>dodge rear ends are built like tanks and are built twice as strong as chevys.
I hope so. I'm about to dump my beautiful 1996 Chevy which has never pulled anything, but is losing it's 2nd differential in 5,000 miles.
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no mercy
Dodge Dakota
10/23/2001
17:52:19
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
lets see you bought a V-8 and now you want gas milage???? HAAAAAAA ha ha aha ha h a ha ha !!!!!! what an oxymoron
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Troy
Dodge Dakota
10/24/2001
13:53:02
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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The Ram and Dakota have the same rear-end, when referring to the 9-1/4". If Kurt has a 5.9 with a 3.92 Sure-Grip, it should have the 9-1/4" axle. The only different axle a Ram has, is in the Off-Roadster. It is a 9-1/4", with a beefier case and 4.10 gears. The case has ridges in it, that the standard 9-1/4" does not have. The Dodge rear-end is the strongest 1/2-ton axle on the market. Chevy's 10-bolt is a piece of crap. I know several people that have had numerous rear end changes, even with no towing being done. I'm pretty sure the GM 10-bolt is just a 7-1/2" ring gear. This is really small for a fullsize pickup, that is intended to be used as a truck. A Dakota V6 has a larger ring gear than this. It is a 8-1/4". Ford has an 8.8.
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herb
Dodge Dakota
11/12/2001
20:07:04
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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gave my 72 dodge 1/2 ton to my son (with 600,000 miles on it) same rear end transmission and engine!! Bought a new 96 ram 1500 and now have 140,000 on it . both these trucks have been used as towing trucks on interstates. I pull light flatbed trailers with horse carriages, often one carriage in the box and 2 or 3 on the trailer. Not a lot of weight but lots of wind resistance. NEVER had any major problems.
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Curtis
Dodge Dakota
11/30/2001
20:28:20
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
I had a 98 dak. V6 w/ 112000 miles on the original fluid, never changed it or even looked at it. I pull a 12foot flat bed with quads and camping gear, and not a peep out of the diff. Now I have a 2002 dak. 4.7 and pulled the same trailer about 1500 miles (total) and not a peep. I a guy that drives the crap out of my trucks w/ or w/o a trailer behind it.
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Ed
Dodge Dakota
12/17/2001
21:13:32
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
I have a 98 extra cab sport with the 3.9 v-6. about 34k on it. I tow a large coleman pop-up tent trailer (around 2,400 lb.s) and a flat bed trailer with two atv's (around 2,000 lbs.) no problems yet.
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nvdak
Dodge Dakota
12/21/2001
14:51:06
|  RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
Why does some dakotas have8.25 and some 9.25 both are4.7s and autos
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Alien
Dodge Dakota
1/06/2002
17:32:10
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
I recently saw eight 2002 Quad Cab 4x4's on a dealers lot. About half had 8.25 differentials and the other half had the 9.25. The dealer had no explanation, even after checking with an area rep. I e-mailed Dodge customer service and got these three responses from the same person:
1-"Thank you for your e-mail to DaimlerChrysler.
The 2002 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4x4 with the 4.7L V8 engine is equipped with the 9.25 rear axle. The 8.25 axle is standard with the 3.9L V6 engine.
I hope this answers your questions."
2-"Thank you for your reply. I apologize that you were provided misinformation in my previous response.
The correct reason why some 2002 Dodge Dakotas are equipped with 8.25 rear axles and some have 9.25 rear axles is because of which Gross Vehicle Weight/Payload Package it is equipped with. If a vehicle is equipped with a 1,950, 2,000, or 2,100 Payload Package, it is equipped with the 9.25 rear axle.
Thank you for allowing me to provide the correct information."
3-"Again, according to our information that we have available, the type of rear axle that is equipped on the vehicle depends on the GVWR/Payload Rating. The 2002 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab has a GVWR of 6,010 pounds. Although it does have a Payload Rating of 1,530 pounds, the Quad Cad is equipped with the 9.25 rear axle."
My salesman acknowledges that these responses do not agree with what is seen as finished product. The mystery continues...
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mikky
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/24/2002
23:43:01
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
i had the same problem when i was offraoding in my 98 4X4 318 . also when i would go to pull some one out of the mud and really heat up the rea end. i too got my rear end replaced because the gear oil would heat up and fome and not lube teh gears. Too fix add TWO bottles of the limited slip addidive instead off one like the factory says. i havent had a problem since
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mikky
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/24/2002
23:43:25
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
i had the same problem when i was offraoding in my 98 4X4 318 . also when i would go to pull some one out of the mud and really heat up the rea end. i too got my rear end replaced because the gear oil would heat up and fome and not lube teh gears. Too fix add TWO bottles of the limited slip addidive instead off one like the factory says. i havent had a problem since
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Mark Urfer
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/07/2002
11:23:49
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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I too own a 01 Dakota quad 4.7 w/3.92 trans. We were towing a camper fully loaded about 5700lbs. We left Madison WI & within 30 miles that smell happened drove 10 hrs. Next day I called the dealer from the badlands, no explanation. Later that day 9/11 Just west of Sturgis,(Spearfish) the rear differential went out. The dealer there wanted to replace it but couldn't(terrorists attacks and time to get a new one) so he rebuilt it. Left to go back home and it leaked oil. Made it home & my dealer replaced the 8.25 with a 9.25 . Towed the camper once since and no problem. This guy who works at the plant told me that the Dana 8.25 rear end is junk and that there working to get the company that GM uses. He owned the Ram 2500. Both dealers gave me a Neon to drive, not the same as a truck but free.
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Dave
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/07/2002
12:39:53
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Hi Folks,Ive got a '98, 4x4, V6 (no limited slip diff, just the standard Rear End), would you recommend putting 75W95 synthetic Gear oil in the Diff ?, I will be pulling a Boat Trailer shortly approx 3,500lbs, I dont want to smoke the rear end in this thing
Thanks again
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Todd
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/12/2002
00:23:15
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
It would be really nice to know which diff when and why, but i do kno a few things, none of these diffs are Danas, and neither are most GM diffs, the "10 bolt" "12 Bolt": and "14 Bolt" are are corporate built axles, both Dodge and Ford go to Danas in 1 tons and really heavy 3/4 tons usually starting at the Dana 60.
I do know that I have had no problems with the front or rear diffs in my all wheel drive Dak and I tow a lot (I own a trailerable boat dealership) and have towed 6000# from LA to Seattle without the truck even breaking a sweat.
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Alien
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/18/2002
23:49:04
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
When my Quad Cab arrived it had the usual 8.25 rear axle instead of the 9.25. Chrysler customer service had previously notified me that Quads came with the 9.25. Here is their most recent response on the subject:
"Thank you for your reply.
In regards to our previous correspondence, I answered your question based upon the standard equipment on the 2002 Dodge Dakota 4x4 Quad Cab. However, upon speaking with production and viewing the list of your factory options, we indicate that your vehicle is equipped with the full-time transfer case. Because your vehicle is equipped with this, it will get the 8.25 rear axle. Dodge Dakotas equipped with part-time transfer cases get the 9.25 rear axle."
I have seen a Dakota CC 4x4 with the AWD and the 9.25. Things still don't add up as far as I'm concerned.
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Skip
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/10/2002
16:25:24
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
I own a 98 dakota Extend cab 4x4 ... I am contemplating buying a new boat 4500 lbs Dry weight + approx 1200 lbs for the tandem axel trailer with surge brakes. I have the 3.9 v6 with the 4 speed auto trans with the button on the shifter to lockout the OD. I only intend to pull the boat about 45 miles each way over fairly even terrain (Chesapeake Bay area ...no mountains to speak of) and I don't want to damage my truck. Has anyone had succuss pulling a large(6000 to 7000 boat) with a V6 dakota ???
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lil rube
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
3/11/2002
19:59:49
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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yer truck aint rated to pull that big a load with a 6 under the hood.pull at your own risk!!!!
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TJ
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/02/2002
20:29:17
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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I have a 2001 reg cab short bed 2wd 3.9l v6 and 5 speed with a 3.21 rear end. My trailer is a gooseneck and empty it weighs 4700 lbs. I've put it on a set of scales, and the heaviest i've ever loaded so far was 17628 lbs. It CAN pull it, just will be a little bit slower. I have also put air bags on the rear end. Makes a huge difference. I know its waaay too heavy for that truck, but i do have the brakes and i don't go but about 10 miles when it is that heavy anyways. Good luck, just do it easy.
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TJ
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/02/2002
20:31:16
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
By the way, it is a ram, not a dakota.
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joe
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
5/03/2002
22:49:32
| RE: Rear end problems towing trailer
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Message:
How can you tell a 8.25 from a 9.25?
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