Differential / Rear end help
For years I prayed for enough money to get a new (or at least new"er" vehicle). Finally got a super clean used 1998 Dodge Ram 1500. Nice truck, (even if it was the only automatic transmission I had ever owned)
now...
A year later, it sounds like the rear end is about to go. Is there a fix or adjustment (that is affordable??)
It started as a noise that sounded like tire noise.
After a month of listening to that noise slowly start to turn to a whine - finally - I can feel the pinion just getting a little warm. Not hot, just a little warm. (not even warm enough to know for sure it's not normal, really...)
If I jack up either rear wheel and turn it... I hear
"grrrr-rrrr-rrrr-rrrr". (if you can roll your "r" in the back of your throat - you can make the noise perfectly)
Felt the housing by each wheel bearing, nothing. I'm afraid it's the pinion bearing - or - the pinion/ring are both worn terribly, or it's just out of adjustment. I can only tell you this is the 3.5 ratio, 9.25" version...
Check and Adjustment procedures you can do in your own driveway would be a really, really big help. Otherwise... it's off to the wreckiing yard, to buy some other rear end, and see what happens...
Jason
is that DANA ?? or Chrysler?? Any difference?? the Dodge house wants a minimum of 825 $$ - which I don't have - but claim they might be able to "fix it with standard maintenance"... but won't know till they look at it...
|