QU50731 Flat Face Rear Axle Pinion Flange for Ram AAM 10.5", 11.5"

QU50731 Flat Face Rear Pinion Flange for Dodge Ram AAM 10-1/2" and 11-1/2" Rear Axles in 2003-up Dodge Ram 2500 trucks and Dodge Ram 3500 trucks that have pinion seal 3.53" O.D.. This genuine original equipment American Axle Manufacturing Pinion Flange has a factory installed deflector with integral wear seal and wiper seal. QU50731 has a female pilot and it will match up to your non-serrated rear Driveshaft Flange Yoke that has a machined flat mating surface and a male pilot.

*In 2013, Chrysler started changing their rear axle housings, so you NEED TO MEASURE THE O.D. of your Pinion Seal to order the correct Pinion Flange! Chrysler used either in their 2013 and up Rams. If your Pinion Seal O.D. is 3.53", QU50731 is the correct Pinion Flange. If your Pinion Seal O.D. is 4-5/16", you will need A560748 Pinion Flange.

Need More Info? Use the handy Links below to access over 40 years of Dan's product and vehicle specific Tech Notes to easily get the information you need for your vehicle's repair, maintenance, or upgrade project!

Dan the Gear Man® Tech Notes:
Non-Serrated Type
Dimensions
Recommendation
Check Vent System
Crush Sleeve
Nut Torque
Pinion Rotating Torque
Matching Parts
Applications

Tech Note 1: Non-Serrated Type
Dodge and Ram AAM 10-1/2" and 11-1/2" 14 Bolt Rear Axles may have either serrated or non-serrated Pinion Flanges. QU50731 is the non-serrated type used on most Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 pickups.

Tech Note 2: Dimensions
QU50731 has a 3-3/4" diameter female pilot. The bolt circle is 4-3/4".

Tech Note 3: Recommendation
Always replace the pinion seal (QU10868) and pinion nut (QU10877) when installing your new QU50731 Pinion Flange.

Tech Note 4: Check Vent System
Many pinion seal leaks are caused by pressure building in the axle due to a clogged axle vent system. Always check and clear the vent system before installing your new Pinion Flange.

Tech Note 5: Crush Sleeve
Your AAM rear axle uses a collapsible spacer or crush sleeve to set pinion rotating torque. To accurately set pinion rotating preload, you should replace your old crush sleeve with a new QU50746 (10.5") or QU10867 (11.5") Pinion Preload Spacer (Crush Sleeve) when you replace the pinion flange.

Tech Note 6: Nut Torque
With a new crush sleeve (pinion preload spacer), the initial overall length of the sleeve is greater than the normal separation distance between the outer pinion bearing and pinion shoulder. As you tighten your pinion nut against the yoke, you will push the outer bearing against this Spacer. At that point the nut will seem tight but your pinion will still be loose. You now must increase the torque applied to the nut by a substantial margin to initiate the compression of the spacer. Once it starts to compress, the required torque needed to continue tightening the nut will still be high, but reduced from the amount needed to start compression. As the spacer collapses, your pinion end play will gradually disappear. When all end-play is gone, you have to be very careful as it will only take a small movement of the nut to go from too loose to too tight. If you over tighten the nut, you MUST get a new spacer and start over!!!

Tech Note 7: Pinion Rotating Torque
Pinion Rotating Torque should be measured with a beam or gauge type inch pound torque wrench. To get an accurate torque reading, you should remove the axle shafts as the drag from your wheel bearings and brakes will adversely affect your results. The rotating torque values listed in my Dodge Ram Shop Manuals are:
Pinion Only Torque to Rotate with NEW Bearings (Diff out of axle): 15-25 lb. in. (1.69-2.82 Nm)
Pinion Only Torque to Rotate with USED Bearings (Diff out of axle): 10-20 lb. in. (1-2 Nm)
Total Torque to Rotate with NEW Bearings (Diff in axle): 30-50 lb. in. (3.4-5.6 Nm)
Total Torque to Rotate with USED Bearings (Diff in axle): 25-45 lb. in. (2.8-5.1 Nm)
Rotate the pinion several times to seat the bearings before taking a final reading.

Tech Note 8: Matching Parts
QU10847 Axle Shaft Flange Gasket
QU11125 Diff Cover Gasket 10.5"
QU11042 Diff Cover Gasket 11.5"
QU10868 Pinion Seal
QU10877 Pinion Nut
QU10876 Pinion Washer
QU11124 Pinion Wear Sleeve
QU50746 Pinion Preload Spacer (Crush Sleeve) AAM 10-1/2" Rear Axle
QU10867 Pinion Preload Spacer (Crush Sleeve) AAM 11-1/2" Rear Axle
QU11230 Pinion Flange Bolt
QU50381 Driveshaft Flange for 1415 Series U-Joint (1-3/16" Cup Diameter)
QU51014 Driveshaft Flange for 1485 Series U-Joint (1-3/8' Cup Diameter)
Dodge & Ram Shop Manuals

Applications:
Dodge and Ram with Pinion Seal 3.53" O.D.:
Ram 2500 with 10.5" or 11.5" Rear Axle and Smooth Face Pinion Flange: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 (2013-verify pinion seal o.d.)
Ram 3500 with 11.5" Rear Axle and Smooth Face Pinion Flange: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 (2013-verify pinion seal o.d.)