All right, you asked for it. And now you're going to get it.
Diesel Power is already the leading diesel enthusiast magazine where readers come to learn about all things diesel-powered. Now we're going to ratchet it up a notch, and we're going to field all your diesel-related tech questions. If you have a problem with your 6.9L, can't find a part number for your LLY, want to know how to make 400 lb-ft with your VW 1.9L, or just want to know what's the best transmission fluid to use in your 48RE, then this is the place for you. We'll begin this month's installment with some of the more basic questions we've already received. Where we go from here is entirely up to you. The best way to get your questions answered is to e-mail them to david.kennedy@sourceinterlink.com. If you're the type that's more comfortable with the U.S. Postal Service, send your questions to:
Top Tech
c/o Diesel Power
6420 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, 90048
Now the disclaimer: Please understand that we can't return anything you send us and that we reserve the right to edit your letter for length and content. You should also realize that we can't answer every letter we get, but we do promise to read everything you send us. Please try to limit your letter to one question, and, obviously, the more information you give us about your problem and vehicle, the better our chances of solving your problem.
Ram Air Ram
Q:I am trying to find a ram air hood for my '97 Dodge diesel. It has a K&N FIPK intake (PN 57-1525). I need a hood that will dump cold air into the airbox.Mike KelleherBoston, Massachusetts
A:There are dozens of aftermarket hoods for your Ram that could be made to work. But all of them will require some modification to feed your K&N intake perfectly. Due to the position of the new filter, we'd use a cowl induction hood (either steel or fiberglass) and modify the K&N heat shield to seal it to the underside of the hood.
Better Silverado Brakes?
Q:I have an '06 2500HD Duramax 4x4 and was wondering if there are any good upgrades that can be done to the braking system on these trucks? The brakes just feel soft if I have to make a sudden stop. I farm, haul hay, and do many other things with this truck. I didn't know if there is a bigger fluid reservoir that would help or not. Any info would be greatly appreciated.Mike SultanyVia e-mail
A:Brake feel is a function of many things, but adding a larger fluid reservoir is not going to give you the improvement you're looking for. Our first recommendation would be to try a new set of brake pads. We'll assume because your truck is an '06 that you still have the factory pads in place. We'd recommend swapping them out for a set of pads designed for your extreme braking needs. Raybestos has a number of different compounds available for applications like yours that are more biased to heavy braking than quiet, dust-free operation. We'd try a set of its Brutestop pads and have your rotors resurfaced for best brake performance.
You might also consider adding an exhaust brake to take some of the load off your factory braking system. If you're really serious about increasing brake performance, Wildwood (pictured) offers a 16-inch rotor and six-piston caliper upgrade for your truck.
Which Ford Axle Do I Have?
Q:What's the story on Ford Super Duty front axles? I've heard that the '99-'02 trucks used Dana 50 frontends and that the '03-and-later trucks use Dana 60s. Is that right? I've also heard that some '02s (like mine) could have the 50 or 60? I've been told that I can check by measuring the pinion nut width. Supposedly, the Dana 60 has a 15/16-inch nut and the 50 uses something smaller. Does any of that make sense?Donnie RoebuckDebary, Florida
A:There could always be some exceptions to these rules, but from what we've been told and seen the '99-'02 F-250 and F-350 single rear-wheel trucks all got the Dana 50 front axle. The dual rear-wheel F-350, F-450, and F-550 all got the Dana 60. In 2002, Ford decided to make all Super Duty trucks with Dana 60 frontends, though it's possible some Dana 50s still slipped through. As far as we can tell, all Excursions got the Dana 50 frontend, regardless of year. But we wouldn't be surprised if some of them left the factory with a Dana 60 anyway.
The only way to know for sure what front axle you have is to measure the pinion gear shaft diameter (where it's threaded). The Dana 50 uses a 3/4-inch shaft, while the Dana 60 uses a 7/8-inch shaft. Typically, that means the Dana 60 will use a 15/16-inch nut.
For the '05 model year, the Super Duty got a redesigned Dana 60 axle, and Ford introduced a Super Dana 60 with thicker tubes, bigger U-joints, and a larger ring gear for use in the F-450 and F-550.