
The Ram 1500 truck comes in many configurations that make it perfect for family travels or towing. If you want to use this vehicle for towing, then get an idea of its axle ratio. But before you learn how to find axle ratio Dodge Ram 1500, let’s dig a bit deeper.
What is an axle?
An axle is a rod that delivers the power from the engine to the wheels. Besides, the axle carries the car’s weight when it’s moves or stops. As mentioned earlier, vehicles have different axle configurations. Sometimes, the axles are fixed and rotates as the wheels; or fixed to the truck, while only the wheels rotate. Both axle and axle ratio is pretty important to the smooth operation of your vehicle.
Again, the axle’s development and design keep the wheels in position while bearing the vehicle’s weight. Meanwhile, you can customize your axle to enhance its speed and torque.
What are the axles on a truck?
The commonest types of axles are front, rear, and stub. Worth mentioning that getting deeper into axles will help you understand how to find axle ratio Dodge Ram 1500.
Front Axle
It locates at the vehicle’s front, assisting the steering in absorbing the road shocks. They are of two types; dead and live. As the name implies, the dead front axle doesn’t rotate with wheels while the live type does.
Rear Axle
This one is in the rear of the car and transfers power to the rotating wheels. Most automakers equip vehicles with live rear axles, meaning they often rotate with the wheels.
Stub Axle
Stub axles are often attached to the vehicle’s front wheel and are connected by kingpins. The commonest stub axle types are Elliot, Reverse Elliot, Lamoine, and Reverse Lamoine.
Does a Dodge Ram 1500 have 2 or 4 axles?
While we’re curious to learn how to find axle ratio Dodge Ram 1500, let’s check the truck’s axle type.
So, how many axles can each vehicle have? Already, vehicles are grouped per their total number of axles. Sometimes, you might want to know why it’s so. But, worry less. With a little idea about axles, you can easily find how many each truck has. Most cars on the road today have two of four axles that propel the wheel. To know the number of axles a vehicle has, look from the side, then start counting the number of wheels.
Most vehicles come with four or two-wheel pairs, each in the front and rear. Of course, two pairs of wheels equal to two axles. This rule doesn’t apply in all vehicles as the engine power and suspension system also determines their number of axles.
However, the Ram 1500 has two axles that spin the wheels. Since larger vehicles carry more passengers and loads, they often have more axles and wheels.
Axle ratio Dodge Ram: How many axles does a regular car have?
Let’s look at the number of axles you’ll find on different vehicle types.
Two Axle Car
These include bicycles, normal cars, medium and light-duty trucks like the Dodge Ram 1500.
Three Axle Car
Mostly found in heavy-duty trucks with solid rear axles to bear extra load. Examples include cargo, Greyhound bus, semi-trailers, and many tractor units. A limousine with three tire sets also comes with three axles.
Four Axle Car
These are found in Tri-drive heavy-duty tractors that carry heavy loads. Other examples include dump trucks and concrete mixers.
Trucks with five axles
Examples are big freight trucks. Three of these axles are on the truck, while two are on the trailer. Another example of a vehicle with five axles is the 8-wheeler truck. Here, one axle is at the front, two in the middle section, then two at the rear.
Meanwhile, each of the axles at the trailer’s bottom has four wheels. Of course, there are other vehicles with more axles, but they’re for heavy-duty equipment haulage and long road trips.
Axle Ratio Dodge Ram 1500: Understanding Axle Ratios
The number of turns that the driveshaft makes to spin an axle for a complete revolution is the axle ratio. This ratio plays a major part in the vehicle’s towing capacity. If the axle ratio is high, the truck’s towing power will be high. That’s because the engine can make more efficient turns with less effort.
But, trucks with higher axle ratios consume more fuel because the engine spins more. Besides, it reduces the highest speed. That shouldn’t be an issue since many truck owners have less interest in speed.
Most automakers use expressions like 3.55:1 to represent the truck’s axle ratio. This number means the driveshaft spins 3.55 times per single revolution of a wheel.
Meanwhile, most 4WD trucks come with a standard axle ratio, which is almost the same for the front and rear wheels. If you want to do more of a highway drive, the standard axle ratio is perfect since it offers the best fuel efficiency. Of course, the reduced revolutions mean your engine doesn’t need much power to move the truck. Ram often recommends you check their website for the truck’s payload and towing rating.
Steps on how to find the Axle Ratio Dodge Ram 1500
Many things often pop into mind when you want to learn how to find axle ratio Dodge Ram 1500. If your truck is new, bear in mind the transmission’s shift point position will change. Meanwhile, the speedometer and RMP will also change.
If you’re with a 4WD truck, make sure the front and rear axle ratios are the same. A higher axle ratio results in a lower gearing ratio and vice-versa. After knowing what an axle and axle ratio is, figure out how to find the axle ratio Dodge Ram 1500.
Axle ratio Dodge Ram 1500 Step One – Locate the tag
The easiest and smartest move to finding the axle ratio dodge ram 1500 is to spot the metal tag. Every truck, including the Ram 1500, comes with a metal tag. Now, check the rear axle carrier body to discover the metal rag.
Of course, your Dodge Ram’s gear ratio is written on the metal tag. If you have a short memory, write down the gear ratio. After writing, keep your cool; you’re about to find your truck’s axle ratio.
Axle ratio Dodge Ram 1500 Step Two – Place the Drive Pan
Raise and support your truck on the jack stands. This step is a bit hard because the truck must not slip-off the jack stands. Once it’s fixed on the jack stands, gently place the drive pan under the carrier housing, then check the bolts.
Remember to keep your tools handy. For this step, you need a wrench and screwdriver for those 13mm bolts. Remove the bolts from in the carrier housing, but using a socket produces the best results. Please take out the cover, but do it slowly, pausing at intervals to allow the gear oil to flow out.
Axle ratio Dodge Ram 1500 Step Three – Count the gear ratio.
After you removed the bolts, the transmission is neutral; you should start counting the gear ratio.
Then, rotate the tire to know the Dodge Ram 1500 gear ratio. That means you should start counting the gear ratio as the tire rotates. Now, you’ll notice the teeth in the large ring gear. Seems simple right? Carefully count the teeth.
But that’s not all. You should also check the small pinion gear. The small pinion gear of your Ram 1500 is at the front of the large ring gear. Get the gear ratio of your Dodge Ram 1500 by dividing the small number into the large number.
Step Four – Clean the Gasket
Do you have a gasket scraper? If so, you’re not far from knowing how to find axle ratio dodge ram 1500. First, remove any dirt or grime from the gasket using the scrapper. Wipe the seal and cover edges with a clean cloth. But it would be best if you had an RTV sealant before you clean.
Now, place the sealant on the cover edges, then leave it to dry. Remember, the sealant must dry until it covers properly. Now, touch it with your fingers to test its level of dryness. If you didn’t feel it sticking on your finger, then it’s completely dry.
Step Five – Reinstall Cover and Refill
Replace the cover and tighten the 13mm bolts using a wrench or socket. Now that you have replaced the carrier housing, the next step is to fill it with gear oil. Fill it through the access plug found by the side. Most importantly, make sure you fill it to the brim.
Pay close attention to the gear lube to know when to stop the refill. Once it is full, the gear lube will come off the plug hole.
Final Words
Now, you have learned how to find axle ratio Dodge Ram 1500. That means you can easily change the axle ratio to suit your taste.
If your gear ratio is 4.11, it means for the tire to make a complete turn, the driveshaft turns 4.11 times. Meanwhile, a 3.50 gear ratio implies the tire turns three and a half times per cycle.
Worth noting that if the axle ratio is higher, your truck accelerates more. But, a smaller gear will produce less acceleration. So, find your truck’s axle ratio and make it more powerful.
You may read our other blog: How to disable alarm on Dodge Ram?