I tore my diff apart last night on my 2000 durango, it appears that a pinion bearing froze on the pinion and gored into the housing. My guess is a rear housing swap is in my future. I can pick up an entire rear housing at my local P&P for 130$ but its from a 99 durango, not worried about the internals just the housing, if it takes the same size ring gear will it work?

UPDATE: Picked up the entire rear assembly today from my local pick and pull 165$ total. I was extremely impressed when I opened the diff covers to remove the axles ( had to take dust covers off to get the axles out) Looked like the rearend was recently serviced before it was scrapped.

Not a good Pic but you can somewhat see the damage and trashed bearing. I will be removing the housing from truck tonight so I should be able to get even better pics

 

Is it the 8 1/4 or 9 1/4? Well, probably doesn't matter, as long as you're getting a direct replacement. Yes, I"m pretty sure you'll have no trouble using a '99 housing. The parts numbers are the same, at least.

And if you can get it for $130, that's a pretty good deal. I'd jump on it. In the other thread I mentioned machine work, but that would probably cost near what you can buy the housing for.

 

Yeah as long as it's the 12bolt and has a speed sensor I should be fine, I can always move spring perches if need be. I don't really want to clutter the forum with a bunch of post but I thought since this was a seperate question it could be used for good reference for someone else in the future. Next time im at my garage I'll take pics of the damage, since I'll more than likely have the housing out then.

 

In case you're interested (and to wisecrack a little), I've got a Dana 60 front with 5.86 gears, and a matching 70 rear, I'll let go pretty reasonable

 

any 9.25 or 8.25 from a dakota/durango should fit under your truck, if you get one with good internals you can bolt in and go and not have to worry about anything else,

if it were me i would look for the same as you have (bolt count is a reliable way to tell)

 

8.25 are the same being 1997 and up. Now the Ram or other as the housings are different.

9.25 is different a story, 2000 and older is the same, and 2001-2009 are the same (just wanted to put this out there).


So to answer your question yes the 2000 should fit as long as the cover bolts are the same. And by the way, there is no spindle bearing in the rear differential. A axle housing and spindle are 2 completely different things. I think you are talking about the bearing that is close to the wheel, this is the rear wheel bearing/axle bearing. There is also 2 carrier bearings, and 2 pinion bearings.

It would be easier to exchange the entire thing and not just the housings, but if you know what you are doing then good luck, if you don't know what your doing and your messing with the gears, well this is well out of many mechanics league.

 

My bad Hydra I meant exactly that on the pinion not spindle, my head isn't all there lately. And thanks on the answer to my original question this helps a lot. I can get an assy out of a 99 model from my local Pick n Pull 129$ and 350$ from my other salvage yard. The one for 350 will be a bolt in hook brake lines up and tires and ready to roll, the one from PnP not sure of

 

have you considered looking for an axle from an '03 with discs? few things to change with it but more stoping power.

 

I have considered that BUT if I ever sell it is much easier for the buyer to get parts for a single model year, and not having to remember which parts are for what year. I won't be selling it soon but the time may come. However for curiosity sakes what few things would have to be changed? And there is still a chance I could might do that

 

I havn't looked into it much myself but I know there has been a few threads here from people doing it or wanting to do it. I know one of the things is something to do with the distrubution block or whatever it is in a durango that has the residual pressure valve for the rear brakes as it will need to be changed. I would think the park brake cables from the axle to where they tie in to the main cable coming from the park brake pedal as well(not sure if the cable coming from park brake pedal would be same). if you get a disc axle make sure its complete including the brake lines to the splitter that should be mounted on the axle.