Hi Chris,
This is not a happy account in the life of your van. However, take some solace in the fact that a similar repair this side of the 49 parallel is upwards of $2000.
I found this link tonight while trying to get my head around how the planetary set functioned. In a conventional trans it's a little easier to follow, but when the differential and the trans are folded up in the same housing it gets a little wonky trying to figure out all the rotating stuff.
This link helps to put it in perspective I think...
http://www.thrashercharged.com/tech_...ferential.shtm
My guess is that there are actually two planetary sets, an input set and a final drive set, the final drive set being attached to the differential.
If there is breakage, I would imagine it is in the inner gear sets, not the ring. The reason is that the engine torque is generally applied from the inside out.
Seems that I have read somewhere that the input shaft to the planetary is hardened aluminum, but I may be wrong on this point.
We probably have a Tech floating around out there who can correct some of what I have written hear (fine by me).
Hope that you get your van back in better shape than when you handed them the keys….I hate doing stuff like that if I can’t keep an eye on the work being done.
And yes, a vacation south to a warmer climate might be better use for 1300+ green bucks too…