text: Axles The Dodge Ram features a wide variety of axles. For the front axle of 4×4 Rams, a Dana 44 was used on all 1500s and the early (light-duty) 2500s. However, most of the 2500 and all 3500 Rams use Dana 60 front axles. The 1500s and some early light-duty 2500s used a 9.25 Chrysler (Spicer) axle in the rear. A Dana 60 rear axle was used on heavy-duty 2500s with the 5.9L V8. A Dana 70 rear axle was used in 2500s with a V10 or diesel and automatic transmission combination. A Dana 80 rear axle was used on 2500s with a manual transmission and V10 or diesel engine combination. Every 3500 was made with a Dana 80. The front-drive axles in 3500s were unique in the fact they did not have locking hubs, but featured a center axle disconnect. The 2002 2500s and 3500s saw the eventual phase-out of the center axle disconnect, in favor of front axles that were permanently locked in. Dodge continued to include front axles like this for its 2500 through 5500 trucks until the 2013 models.
  Engines
  A natural-gas-powered engine debuted for the 1995 model year, but was not popular and was only used in fleet vehicles on a limited production run. The Cummins B Series engine was switched from the 12-valve to the 24-valve (ISB) version in the middle of the 1998 model-year Dodge Rams to comply with emissions regulations. The ISB featured a new computer-controlled electronic injection pump and a 24-valve head design.