problem with an 01 dodge ram

[buell-eyed-devil]

bro-in-laws truck. been making a funny whining noise in rearend for a while. Well today his driveshaft comes out going down the road. Pinion nut came off. Went to push off the road and it wouldnt move. Hooked it to my truck, drivers rear rolled, passenger side was trying to go backwards. I broke a universal in my 86 Bronco, locked in the hubs and drove it home so I know this isnt normal. Any ideas?

 

[Uncle Gump]

Ran it out of lube... and blew it up.

 

[sheep herder]

No lube=crunch and munch

 

[RonD]

+1 ^^^

Rear axle overheated and welded itself together
Pinion sheared off

Yes that is normal for rear wheels to turn in opposite directions, they do that if you jack up rear axle and spin one wheel the other turns in opposite condition, if its a OPEN differential

 

[Snoranger]

It probably has a seized pinion bearing.

 

[buell-eyed-devil]

popped cover off. no metal shavings at all. Looks like someone rebuilt rear end and didnt tighten pinion nut properly. Havent pulled completely apart but dont see any apparent damage

 

[buell-eyed-devil]

Update and new issue. Ring and pinion were good, installed new bearings and seals, had a buddy set up for me. Bolting everything back together and driveshaft yoke will not go inside transmission. cleaned splines up on both and lubed but shaft will on go in about 2" and locks up. splines on trans side look good...yoke hard to tell. Anyone had this problem before?

 

[Dirtman]

Stick a pencil in the driveshsft yoke and see if theres a rock in it...

I still don't see how you could loose a pinion nut and have the driveshaft come free while driving and have no damage to anything.

 

[Curious Hound]

Stick a pencil in the driveshsft yoke and see if theres a rock in it...

I still don't see how you could loose a pinion nut and have the driveshaft come free while driving and have no damage to anything.

At a minimum, there would be damage to my underwear.

 

[buell-eyed-devil]

couple races/bearings were junk but we replaced them

 

[Dirtman]

Well only reason the slip yoke wouldn't go on is if something is stuck in the hole or the internal yoke splines or external output shaft splines were damaged. I'd hope for a rock in the hole or at worst the slip yoke is busted because a bad output shaft means a total transmission tear down.