Meritor or Dana rears?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Juicehauler, Dec 18, 2013.

  1. Juicehauler

    Juicehauler Light Load Member

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    Hi everyone, I just picked up a 01 379, it's a nice truck, got it cheap, but it's got no lockers. It has meritor rt40145 diffs w/3.73 gears, now it don't know too much about meritor's, are they a good axle? The reason I ask is want/need at least 3 way locks, sooo I have a choice, I can either swap my meritor rear carrier for $1500, or I have a buddy with a set of super 40's/3.90's/3 way lock he will sell me for $1500. Labour isn't an issue, we can do everything in my shop. The truck will be used for hauling nh3 in the spring and tridem gravel trailer in the summer. Oh, and has an n14 celect, 13 speed & tall 22.5's. any thoughts or suggestions? Keep the rocks or ditch em for the super 40's?
     
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  3. truckman29801

    truckman29801 Medium Load Member

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    I have Rockwell, I believe its the same they stay quiet and cool under a 40k load with me.
     
  4. Heavyd

    Heavyd Road Train Member

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    Meritor gets my vote!
     
    truckman29801 Thanks this.
  5. puncher

    puncher Medium Load Member

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    Ditto from me too.
     
  6. Juicehauler

    Juicehauler Light Load Member

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    What do you guys think of tall 24.5 rubber, with 3.73 gears and a 13 speed? Should be decent i think, but this is the first truck ive owned.
     
  7. wore out

    wore out Numbered Classic

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    The tall rubber doesn't make that much difference really, I run them with 3.55 and 3.36 rears and like them. On the rears I have always been an Eaton or Meritor fan myself. Nothing against rockwell at all they are tough but will break you if you have a hiccup. If you need lockers chances of that are looking better. I will say I don't have much experience with the 40145 I have always run 402 and 404. If the 40145 is as good as them I wouldn't mess with changing housings. Also remember rotating mass if the 40's are alot bigger heavier built economy will suffer.
     
  8. Cetane+

    Cetane+ Road Train Member

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    Is the $1500 for rebuilt rears? Compared to used for the same price? Do yours or his axles need brakes, cams, slacks, drums, seals, bearings? Are the saddles EXACTLY the same on both axle housings? Air ride rod going to mount right up? The least complicated to do (fastest) is to change your gears. All the airlines, anti-lock wires will be in the right spot, with no rigging to get things to work.
     
    wore out Thanks this.
  9. Juicehauler

    Juicehauler Light Load Member

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    I agree with you Cetane. Super 40's got 230k since rebuild, they are out of the same truck(low air leaf), so saddles should be good, brakes are about the same condition as mine (75%) as for the track bar that is what im worried about. A guy can take all the measurements (supers are 400 miles away), but there always seems to be hiccups when i comes time to bolt it up. I'm leaning towards just swapping the rear carrier with a locker from a wrecker, i found another good takeout for $1100 and he'll give the dash switch($150) from Peterbilt. Simplest fastest cheapest solution for me, just need to run airlines to the cab and I'm gtg.
     
  10. Cowpie1

    Cowpie1 Road Train Member

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    I spec'd Meritor 14x aluminum housing drive axles with full lockers in both for my glider truck. I really like them.
     
  11. Cetane+

    Cetane+ Road Train Member

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    You need locks, or traction control. The problem I had with TC was it wouldnt let me spin the tires up to get moving. Then in 01' in the new Western Star, I blew out the intermediate drive shaft trying to burn up a dirt road in Vermont that was 4" thick of packed snow. It seems the anti-lock somehow wanted to stop the drives when the fronts were going 30mph slower. Not a good sound on a truck with 77000mi. on it.
     
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