200K mile & Beyond Repair History of The Radio Flyer--2014 RAM 3500 Tradesman DRW 4x4
For informational purposes, I decided I'd start a new thread disclosing repairs of The Radio Flyer.....My 2014 RAM 3500 Crew Cab Tradesman 4x4 DRW.
During warranty, I had a L/R door lock actuator, rear axle repairs http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/2...xperiences-my-2014-ram-3500-crew-cab-4x4.html and a water pump replacement http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/2...-failure-94-914-miles-my-2014-ram-3500-a.html .
Since exceeding the 200k mile mark, I've encountered a couple of decent size repairs, obviously out of pocket.
The first repair was a seeping upper radiator hose Y-Pipe in Johnson City, TN on March 14th, 2017 (222,133 miles). This leak could have been babied until I got home, but since Auto Nation RAM of Johnson City, TN had the part and the time to do the repair, common sense, coupled with the thoughts of a tow bill for The Radio Flyer AND a stack of trailers bound for Kings Mountain, NC got the best of me. One upper radiator Y-Pipe hose assembly, one gallon of coolant, labor, shop supplies, and sales tax later to the tune of $273.04 was just fine by me.
Y-Pipe assembly # 52014722AD
Coolant # 68163848AB
Fast forward to March 29th, 2017.......(and 229,180 miles) on my way back home from delivering a 2017 GatorMade 30+5 gooseneck trailer to Louisa, VA I noticed an oil leak near the R/F wheel area. Due to my hours of service, I shut down in Abingdon, VA that night. The next morning I discovered I had a leaking R/F axle seal. I then checked the fluid level, and deemed it good, and drove it the rest of the way home that Thursday.
Upon getting home, I re-checked the level. It required about 1/3 of a quart. On Friday, while making a delivery to Florence, KY and Ashland, KY I began checking availability of seals and a place that would / could do them. Upon arriving home, I again added fluid to the tune of about another 1/3 quart.
On Friday, I secured two new front axle seals...one in Somerset, KY and one in Lexington, KY. I ended up picking them up on Saturday, as I didn't want to chance anything going wrong with inventory and whichever installer I ultimately chose.
On Monday, I delivered a gooseneck stack to the GatorMade retail store in Marietta, GA. Near Athens, TN I checked the fluid---and guess what---added another 1/3 quart.
During the day on Monday, I decided on and secured an appointment with Don Marshall Chrysler (my selling dealer) in Somerset, KY for Wednesday, April 5th.
I was lucky enough to have a really great diesel / powertrain tech with 16 years of experience (all at that dealership, I might add) to work on The Radio Flyer.
While there---I also had the serpentine belt replaced (OEM w/229k miles).
Two front axle seals, one MOPAR serpentine belt, three quarts of Mobil 1 75W90 GL5 synthetic axle fluid, two cans of brake cleaner, and 6.2 hours labor later.....The Radio Flyer is ready to roll down the roads, worry free, and start making me some money again. Although the tech went over on the flat-rate hour allowance, I was still charged by book time.
Front axle seals # 05086686AA
Serpentine Belt # 04627751AA
$785.28 later.......I'm ready to roll yet again.
Below is a few pics I snapped during the tear-down process.
R/F shot of the axle. One can see the evidence of the leak on the tube. After a two hour or so park time, a "puddle" about 2.0" to 2.5" in diameter would be present.
Another R/F shot of the leak. One can see where the leak has been "sprayed" all over radius arm, mud flap, and wheel well liner.
L/F side....with differential cover removed. If you look hard enough, you can see the R/F parts removed by the tech. He also removed the axle while still attached to the unit bearings....with the axle nut undisturbed. One can also see the hub extension and brake rotor.
Front differential cover removed.
The tech was uneasy about working on my truck with 229k miles. Oddly enough....he said he was extremely surprised at HOW EASY the unit bearings came apart from the axle assembly.
Removal of the axles requires ring gear removal.....thus the reason for the differential cover being removed.
For informational purposes, I decided I'd start a new thread disclosing repairs of The Radio Flyer.....My 2014 RAM 3500 Crew Cab Tradesman 4x4 DRW.
During warranty, I had a L/R door lock actuator, rear axle repairs http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/2...xperiences-my-2014-ram-3500-crew-cab-4x4.html and a water pump replacement http://www.cumminsforum.com/forum/2...-failure-94-914-miles-my-2014-ram-3500-a.html .
Since exceeding the 200k mile mark, I've encountered a couple of decent size repairs, obviously out of pocket.
The first repair was a seeping upper radiator hose Y-Pipe in Johnson City, TN on March 14th, 2017 (222,133 miles). This leak could have been babied until I got home, but since Auto Nation RAM of Johnson City, TN had the part and the time to do the repair, common sense, coupled with the thoughts of a tow bill for The Radio Flyer AND a stack of trailers bound for Kings Mountain, NC got the best of me. One upper radiator Y-Pipe hose assembly, one gallon of coolant, labor, shop supplies, and sales tax later to the tune of $273.04 was just fine by me.
Y-Pipe assembly # 52014722AD
Coolant # 68163848AB
Fast forward to March 29th, 2017.......(and 229,180 miles) on my way back home from delivering a 2017 GatorMade 30+5 gooseneck trailer to Louisa, VA I noticed an oil leak near the R/F wheel area. Due to my hours of service, I shut down in Abingdon, VA that night. The next morning I discovered I had a leaking R/F axle seal. I then checked the fluid level, and deemed it good, and drove it the rest of the way home that Thursday.
Upon getting home, I re-checked the level. It required about 1/3 of a quart. On Friday, while making a delivery to Florence, KY and Ashland, KY I began checking availability of seals and a place that would / could do them. Upon arriving home, I again added fluid to the tune of about another 1/3 quart.
On Friday, I secured two new front axle seals...one in Somerset, KY and one in Lexington, KY. I ended up picking them up on Saturday, as I didn't want to chance anything going wrong with inventory and whichever installer I ultimately chose.
On Monday, I delivered a gooseneck stack to the GatorMade retail store in Marietta, GA. Near Athens, TN I checked the fluid---and guess what---added another 1/3 quart.
During the day on Monday, I decided on and secured an appointment with Don Marshall Chrysler (my selling dealer) in Somerset, KY for Wednesday, April 5th.
I was lucky enough to have a really great diesel / powertrain tech with 16 years of experience (all at that dealership, I might add) to work on The Radio Flyer.
While there---I also had the serpentine belt replaced (OEM w/229k miles).
Two front axle seals, one MOPAR serpentine belt, three quarts of Mobil 1 75W90 GL5 synthetic axle fluid, two cans of brake cleaner, and 6.2 hours labor later.....The Radio Flyer is ready to roll down the roads, worry free, and start making me some money again. Although the tech went over on the flat-rate hour allowance, I was still charged by book time.
Front axle seals # 05086686AA
Serpentine Belt # 04627751AA
$785.28 later.......I'm ready to roll yet again.
Below is a few pics I snapped during the tear-down process.
R/F shot of the axle. One can see the evidence of the leak on the tube. After a two hour or so park time, a "puddle" about 2.0" to 2.5" in diameter would be present.
Another R/F shot of the leak. One can see where the leak has been "sprayed" all over radius arm, mud flap, and wheel well liner.
L/F side....with differential cover removed. If you look hard enough, you can see the R/F parts removed by the tech. He also removed the axle while still attached to the unit bearings....with the axle nut undisturbed. One can also see the hub extension and brake rotor.
Front differential cover removed.
The tech was uneasy about working on my truck with 229k miles. Oddly enough....he said he was extremely surprised at HOW EASY the unit bearings came apart from the axle assembly.
Removal of the axles requires ring gear removal.....thus the reason for the differential cover being removed.