The Posi-traction clutch retaining clips fail and cause rear-end lock-up.. I've re-built my rear-end three times in five years.. New axles, new bearing, new Posi clutch plates, NEW CLIPS.. I've even machined extra heavy duty clips... And it still falls apart in about a year... If these clips fail at high speed, you'll be lucky not to be in a roll over... The last time I had my rear-end part...the whole posi assemble was thrown in the garbage.. Now I've got a 100% "free-wheeling" diff.. It's been better than two year since I ditched the Posi..and it's still good so far...

PS.. I use to have a 4X4... now it's a 3X4..And I can't tell any difference in traction... I live on winter ice and snow mountain roads... And I'm still alive.. with a rear-end that not locked-up...

If you have a posi-tractions differential , you need to pull the posi assemble out and throw in the garbage.. There are retaining clips that hold the posi clutch plates in the diff. case ....THESE CLIPS BRAKE OFF !!!.

And It's not..if it's going to happen... IT"S IS, WHEN IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN !!!

When these clips brake, there is a good chance there are going to get jammed in the spider gears, ring gear, pinion .. If this happens when your at high speed.. your rear end locks-up instantly.. And you be lucky if you not in a roll over.. or at least not being hit by car that following to close.. I've re-built my rear end three times in five years,... new axles, new bearings, new posi clutch. NEW CLIPS... and it falls apart after about a year.. I've machined some extra heavy duty clips... they lasted just a bit longer than the OME.. Here's a test.. AT LOW SPEED , (parking lot) YOU TURN YOUR WHEES HARD OVER..and YOUR HEARING A GRINDING NOSIE, THE OUT SIDE REAR TIRE ISN'T "FREE-WHEELING".. ..THE CILPS ARE BROKEN.....THE CLIPS ARE BROKEN.. ....THE CLIPS ARE BROKEN..

Let me repeat myself.. DANGER!! DANGER!! Will Robson.. THE CLIPS ARE BROKEN !!!!!!.. And are floating around in the diff case..

My 2002 4x4 dodge Dakota w/ 72,000 miles and still under an extended warranty is currently at the dealership due to the differential breaking/cracking ....they don't want to warranty it as they said its my fault? This is a street driven truck and there is no way possible that I broke the differential causing the axle to pull out of the differential 1/2 inch making it appear that it is tacoed! I had the transfer case replaced 8 months ago as it failed? This truck is a piece of sh*t and anyone having the same issue plz let me know as I am gathering all the information I can and intend to take this to court if they don't warranty this replacement. Please contact me with information that might be helpful.

ok who ever designed this diff was a f*kin dumb a* not only did the failure of all the gears in the rear end cause my tires to lock up it almost put me one hell of deep ditch that was not a fun ride... it taken me over a week to get all the right parts and it doesn't help know one knows how to fix my truck its still down and it 10/1/07 and it f**K up on 9/20/07 and i can't fix it because i need the right tools. so whoever's out there, do not but a dodge Dakota ok, because its nothing but a money truck stay away from it

My rear differential broke on my 2002 Dodge Dakota. I had a 70,000 mile warranty through Dodge. At 72,000 miles the differential broke. I took it into a Dodge dealership (Hartzheim Dodge in San Jose, CA) and they took it apart and found the problem. I asked the dealership to see if Dodge would take care of the problem as it was just out of warranty. It took the dealership a week to tell me that Dodge wouldn't cover it. The reason was that I didn't have any receipts for having the differential fluid changed. I had the fluid changed as required in the manual and it was written down in the manual. However Dodge would not even consider that as legitimate. I had to pull teeth to get the dealership to call Dodge. They didn't really want to go out of their way. I even talked to the upper management at the dealership and they weren't helpful at all. I was really mad at this point and pulled my truck out of there. They wanted to charge me almost $4,000 to fix the problem. They ended up charging me $130 for the diagnostic. I took my truck to my mechanic and he replaced the differential for about $2,000.

Has anybody else had this problem? Chrysler and Dodge does not go to bat for their customers. I have had other problems with my truck and that was before 70,000 miles. However they weren't covered under the extended warranty. I am not happy with my Dodge or the way I have been treated by Chrysler or the dealership. Any suggestions?