Rear differential thinking of buying a travel trailer and want to know how to find out what my 2004 dodge 1500 with 5.7 l has for a rear end so I can find out what it will tow. Thanks Richard

http://www.new-cars.com/2004/dodge/dodge-ram-1500-trailer-towing.html

I supose you are talking about the rear axle? if so, unscrew the bolts of the rear axle's cover and let the oil flow out into a container. once it's empty, clean the cover and the surface on the axle where the cover goes on to, apply a seal onto the cover and put the cover back on and screw al of the bolts back into place and tighten them. you will find a rubber plug in the cover, take it out and fill the rear axle untill the liquid comes out of the plughole. Put the rubber plug in and you're done! Watch out if you got al limited slip differential, you will need to put an additive into the oil so you won't burn the clutches of you limited slip differential.

On the rear differential there will either be a metal plug or a rubber plug. The metal plug can be removed with a 3/8-inch drive ratchet. the rubber plug can be removed with a small screwdriver. Faceing the axle from the rear will see the plug to the right side on the cover plate. Remember to also check the front differential as well. Hope this will help you.

If you adding a trailer light harness, you can buy a seperate harness from most auto parts stores that will plug right in. There should be a connector near the rear of the truck that you can unplug, and add the trailer harness. It's simple and fast and you don't end up making a mess of your wiring. I suggest puting some "dielectric grease" on the connections to prevent corrosion.
Flat 4 connector.
Brown is tail lights and marker lights.
Yellow and Green are turn and stop. I think yellow is left.
White is ground.

All differentials have a provision to check that. Usually you will find a rubber plug in the cover or a access port in the housing with a male or female 1/2" wrench attachment provision. (basically a pipe plug) Always check on level ground. Fluid should be just at or slightly below the hole.(use your finger or a pencil as a dipstick.)

while you had the cover off did you by chance look at the condition of the ring gear and spider gears...if it was run for any length of time low on fluid or with two different sized tires you may need some repairs but first inspect the ring gear and rotate till you can see the 4 little beveled gears inside the differential ....use a screwdriver and check for excess movement...look at the crossshaft and look for wear.....hope this points you in the right direction.

Hello! This could be from a few things - you could have a differential pinion gear that is misaligned and that will cause a howling noise - or it could also be a wheel bearing. Check your differential fluid and it might be worthwhile changing it.

Hope this helps and good luck!

-KCGTO Dad

Check the U joints, there more common to go bad then the differential, unless you are low on differential fluids. You can take it to a drive line shop and have them replace the u joints and differential fluid and also have them readjust the ring and pin in the differential to give you more life out of the rear end. Good luck and keep me posted. Be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Here is a website that specializes in diff. covers. I'd say look them up and give them a call and I'm sure they can get you fixed up. http://www.oasisdifferentialcovers.com/dodge.html

Hello, well you can look at it in a few different ways. Like you stated you can get a rear end from a salvage yard and not know what you are getting, you can spend some big bucks to get a new rear end, or you can get it rebuilt. I feel getting it rebuilt will be the better option. If you get it rebuilt you will have new parts in the rear end and know what you have verses the cost of a new rear end. This of course depends on how much damage there is in the rearend. Economically I feel that having it rebuilt is the best option. I always get nervouse when putting in any used part because you don't know what you are getting. If you do get it rebuilt make sure they put in new bearings which any reputible shop should anyways.