(Update 11/14/13: lifted!!!) 2012 Power Wagon ST questions!

[myoung84]

I had the same issue with my rear ds hitting, you might want to look into replacing it fairly soon. The aluminum ds's are paper thin and the last thing you want to is have it pull apart while doing high way speeds

A SYE kit and steel shaft might be in your future.

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[stubiePW]

Ram4roks the truck looks great. I love how the 37s fill out the truck. Keep up the great work


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[Mexican Import]

Thats an awesome truck man... alot like the vision i have for my truck. Any chance of a build thread? If I could see your rear shocks, and the piece you cut away to stop the drive shaft from rubbing that would be very helpful. And by the way I applaud your trail scars on a newer truck it really shows you have the balls to do what it takes to get where you are going.

[Mexican Import]

Oh and what rock rails are you using? Do you like them?

[RAM4ROKS]

myoung84- Thanks for the kind words! Believe it or not, I have actually been quite lucky when it comes to trees! In the words of my buddy that was wheeling behind me- "I have never seen somebody come so close to so many trees and not hit them!" LOL! (that buddy was wheeling a full size rig too- There were only two full-size rigs on the private trail run, my Power Wagon and his K5. The trail leader was a built CJ-7, I was second in line, the K5 was third, and the other 19 rigs behind us were all CJs, YJs, TJs, JKs, and a couple XJs.)

Also, thanks for the tip on the shock pressure, I will be trying that! I am also going to do the chalk line trick on the tires and figure out their optimal pressure. The tires really didn't have as much impact on the ride as I had thought they would though. I thought they'd either smooth it out or wonder and be rough, instead they feel about the same as stock!

On the topic of the rear driveshaft, I am contemplating a little different of a setup: a two piece shaft with a carrier bearing. I'll retain the stock slip yoke but, it will only go on a short shaft that leads to the carrier bearing, then another shaft will go to the axle. I think this will solve the clearance issue, and will keep me from having issues if I do break a shaft since the shaft portion most likely to break would be the one from carrier bearing to pinion. (the carrier bearing will keep the other portion on place) That way I don't have to tear apart my t-case, I gain a little more clearance under the driveshaft, and I don't have to worry about balance issues with one long steel shaft.

bstefanic- You are definitely right!!!- a new driveshaft is definitely on my list of to dos! But, it's going to be a while, $$$! I saw your driveshaft, mine was not as gouged so, hopefully I will be good for a while. It is definitely high on priorities list though!!! (do NOT want it ripping apart on me!!!)

04Ram2500Hemi- Thanks!!! Yeah, I have been looking really hard at that AEV rig, it makes me wanna go 40s when my 37s wear out!!!!

stubiePW- Thanks!!! Yeah, the 37s really fill out the wheelwells! I think they are the perfect looking tires for our trucks! I chuckle though sometimes driving around, when I see people with their trucks lifted 8-10" to fit the same size tires I am running on a 2" lift!

Mexican Import: Thanks!!! I took a fair bit of pics of the install that I can post up. I think I still have the piece I cut away from the skid (tossed it into the bed of my truck since I didn't want anybody cutting their tire on it), I can also post a pic of it now, it's easy to see what needed cut away comparing before/after. On the trail scars- it's all in good fun! I enjoy trail riding on tight Jeep trails so, it's bound to happen! I'd only had the truck for 3 days before I took it on its first trail ride!

My sliders are Aluminess. They actually mount to the rockers (I wish they mounted to the frame) but, even rocker mounted, they are holding up well and have protected the truck from a LOT of nasty hits!!! I have pivoted the whole truck off the sliders around rocks and trees and have landed on and scraped along the sliders more times than I can count!!! I should try and get a good shot of the underside of the sliders, they show scars from a TON of rocks!!!

[bstefanic]

I think a two piece ds with a carrier bearing will be much more expensive. I did my SYE with a custom tom wood's ds for about $900 total, that was with me pulling the transfer case and delivering it to my local shop...and hell pulling your transfer case is a giant pain in the ass but fun as hell. Tom woods shafts...you never have to worry about the balance, plus their warranty is incredible. It shouldn't run you more than about $130 to have the transfer case parts swapped out at a good shop

[RAM4ROKS]

Oh, forgot to mention, I'm at nearly 500 miles on the kit since I put it on last tuesday so, it's had some testing miles. (gonna be time to re-torque real soon! (Carli recommends re-torque at 500 miles))

EDIT: I didn't see bstefanic's post before posting this, DOH!!!

[bstefanic]

Thats an awesome truck man... alot like the vision i have for my truck. Any chance of a build thread? If I could see your rear shocks, and the piece you cut away to stop the drive shaft from rubbing that would be very helpful. And by the way I applaud your trail scars on a newer truck it really shows you have the balls to do what it takes to get where you are going.

I just took a saws all down the first set of drain holes on the skid plate

[RAM4ROKS]

I think a two piece ds with a carrier bearing will be much more expensive. I did my SYE with a custom tom wood's ds for about $900 total, that was with me pulling the transfer case and delivering it to my local shop...and hell pulling your transfer case is a giant pain in the ass but fun as hell. Tom woods shafts...you never have to worry about the balance, plus their warranty is incredible. It shouldn't run you more than about $130 to have the transfer case parts swapped out at a good shop

I'm surprised you were able to get done at $900, I was thinking more like $1000. I don't think the two piece shaft with carrier will be as much, the shop that balanced my shaft builds shafts in house and could do the whole setup for less $$$, I'm pretty sure at least. I've had Tom Woods shafts before on my ZJ, they are nice!!! I'll have to talk more with the local shop here and see what $$$ I'd be looking at, I was considering the two piece and carrier route partially for cost savings.

Also, I was looking at my t-case the other day- my tails haft is not removable, it is part of the back half of the case. So, I would have to replace the entire back half of the case or maybe do a transfer case swap all together. For 2012, Ram switched to the Borg Warner 44-47 transfer case, here is what my t-case looks like:

[RAM4ROKS]

Thats an awesome truck man... alot like the vision i have for my truck. Any chance of a build thread? If I could see your rear shocks, and the piece you cut away to stop the drive shaft from rubbing that would be very helpful. And by the way I applaud your trail scars on a newer truck it really shows you have the balls to do what it takes to get where you are going.

I just took a saws all down the first set of drain holes on the skid plate

I only had to do the rear most one, right next to the scratch on the driveshaft, just cut at an angle. I'll try to post a pic tomorrow if I have time.

[bstefanic]

Hmm, no kidding...that definitely isn't the way my transfer case looks. The tail housing is separate from the main rear case.

[bstefanic]

Ok...yea so a two part ds might actually be cheaper. I know some newer F-350's run a two piece (have crawled around under some at work) might be worth looking at those and modifying them. Also, couldn't hurt to just give tom wood's a call...I couldn't believe a custom ds cost the same as a stock one. They might be able to come up with something for you.

[RAM4ROKS]

I wish I had a t-case like yours!!!! Looks like I don't have an SYE option, unless I want to go swapping t-case! (Or, could go the kinda questionable drill and tap the output shaft and "customize" the existing yoke as a fixed rather than slip (seen it done on other t-cases) but, seems kinda sketchy to me!) I Googled but, I didn't see ANY slip yoke eliminators for the 44-47. Makes sense though, it's only been in the PW since January 2012 and it is an integrated tailpiece t-case so, an SYE would require either a new back half or a LOT of machining to the existing back half.

[bstefanic]

Not to hi-jack your thread...but any idea on the difference between the borg transfer case and a NV271? Never realized they changed a significant portion of the drive train

[bstefanic]

I wish I had a t-case like yours!!!! Looks like I don't have an SYE option, unless I want to go swapping t-case! (Or, could go the kinda questionable drill and tap the output shaft and "customize" the existing yoke as a fixed rather than slip (seen it done on other t-cases) but, seems kinda sketchy to me!) I Googled but, I didn't see ANY slip yoke eliminators for the 44-47. Makes sense though, it's only been in the PW since January 2012 and it is an integrated tailpiece t-case so, an SYE would require either a new back half or a LOT of machining to the existing back half.

Hmm, I wonder if the housing bolt patterns would match up...

[RAM4ROKS]

Ok...yea so a two part ds might actually be cheaper. I know some newer F-350's run a two piece (have crawled around under some at work) might be worth looking at those and modifying them. Also, couldn't hurt to just give tom wood's a call...I couldn't believe a custom ds cost the same as a stock one. They might be able to come up with something for you.

I agree!- the stock driveshaft for our trucks is CRAZY pricey!!! Getting a Tom Woods shaft beats the heck outta a stock shaft for the same $$$! Yeah, the newer F-350's and a LOT of medium duty trucks have two piece! (saw quite a few laying around the local shop here)

A quick google search yields that I'm probably going to be looking in the $900 range as well. (looking at similar setups)

Looks like Jesse at HIgh Angle Drivelines does a LOT of the two piece F-350 shafts. I had HAD driveshafts in my 87 GMG Jimmy, he does good work too!

[RAM4ROKS]

I honestly don't know the real differences between the 44-47 and the NV271, other than the tail housing.It looks like they have a little different of a low range ratio- the BW 44-47 features a 2.64:1 low vs the 271's 2.72:1 (IIRC) low. The Borg Warner is supposedly stronger (its introduction coinciding with the upping of the towing capacity of all the HD line) but, that could be coincidence and not the fact some assume it to be.

I'd be willing to bet the input gear and the bolt pattern are different as Ram put the new six speed auto into the trucks in 2012, and I'd wager it was at the same time as the new t-case.

[myoung84]

I thought they were both the same low ratio, I'll have to find the printout again and look. Also, the bolt pattern will be the same, they didn't switch to the Borg Warner case until January 2012. My 2012 and all other 2012s built in 2011 have the NV case. I'm sure you could swap them out if you really wanted to.

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[RAM4ROKS]

I thought they were both the same low ratio, I'll have to find the printout again and look. Also, the bolt pattern will be the same, they didn't switch to the Borg Warner case until January 2012. My 2012 and all other 2012s built in 2011 have the NV case. I'm sure you could swap them out if you really wanted to.

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Cool! Thanks for the info!!!

[2wagons1driveway]

Wow this new t case maybe I have too not happy about that the older t cases were better no?

[TwinStick]

Lets face it, does anything really get better with vehicles ? They keep giving you less & charging you more, figuring out ways so you can not do the maintenance yourself, using more plastic, using 1 wire for more than 1 function so you can not splice into it without screwing something else up. Lets face it, they do not want us to do anything to our vehicles, either maintenance or modifications. The parts on todays 3/4 & 1 ton trucks were used on the 1/2 ton trucks in the 70's. Just sayin'.

[05PWrockcrawler]

Lets face it, does anything really get better with vehicles ? They keep giving you less & charging you more, figuring out ways so you can not do the maintenance yourself, using more plastic, using 1 wire for more than 1 function so you can not splice into it without screwing something else up. Lets face it, they do not want us to do anything to our vehicles, either maintenance or modifications. The parts on todays 3/4 & 1 ton trucks were used on the 1/2 ton trucks in the 70's. Just sayin'.

I agree they are always getting more technical so the average person needs them to repair it or will trade it in on a newer model with less miles. Gotta grow and learn the new equipment on your ride or you will be paying a ton of cash for repair bills and not even knowing if they screwed you or not.


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[2wagons1driveway]

Well I just hate seeing when they downgrade to something that less serviceable when there was nothing wrong with the new venture t cases they originally had. I am not sure about the reliability thing though. Truthfully for the amount of vehicles they produce there is probably less problems and common failures then there used to be. I mean look at some of the km you can get on our vehicle on a factory auto transmission or clutch or how good on fuel they are compared to 20 years ago. However like ya'll said! They make them so complex and technical to service thT you need to go to a dealer to fix something as simple as a body module or windsheild wiper relay lol


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[nfb]

Ok...yea so a two part ds might actually be cheaper. I know some newer F-350's run a two piece (have crawled around under some at work) might be worth looking at those and modifying them. Also, couldn't hurt to just give tom wood's a call...I couldn't believe a custom ds cost the same as a stock one. They might be able to come up with something for you.

Hey I know this is old, but did you ever end up running a 2-piece DS? I've been trying to find information on a SYE for my 2015, but with BW 44-47, it just doesn't seem worth the money and effort. A 2-piece DS might be the next best thing.

I agree!- the stock driveshaft for our trucks is CRAZY pricey!!! Getting a Tom Woods shaft beats the heck outta a stock shaft for the same $$$! Yeah, the newer F-350's and a LOT of medium duty trucks have two piece! (saw quite a few laying around the local shop here)

A quick google search yields that I'm probably going to be looking in the $900 range as well. (looking at similar setups)

Looks like Jesse at HIgh Angle Drivelines does a LOT of the two piece F-350 shafts. I had HAD driveshafts in my 87 GMG Jimmy, he does good work too!

[RAM4ROKS]

Weird, I thought I replied to this??? Anyway, I still haven't done anything about the driveshaft, I will definitely post up whenever I eventually get around to it!