First a little background, 04 Dakota, Regular cab 4X4 with 3.7 and 5 speed with 79K miles. Started getting a whinning or roaring sound over 25-30 mph, kind of like when you're running super swamper tires. I figured it was probably a wheel hub bearing going south so jacked the front end and sure enough...play in the front wheel when grabbed at the 12 and 6 o'clock position on the passenger side. Ordered a new wheel hub bearing assembly and installed it today, crap...noise is still there. When I inspected the old bearing assembly it felt fine so I swapped it out to the drivers side figuring maybe it was bad...nope, noise still there! I checked all the CV boots for damage, they're fine, checked all the gearbox fluids and they're good, and there doesn't seem to be any slop in the universal joints. BTW, the wheel slop is from worn upper ball joints...did figure that out. So, anyone got any ideas??

 

put it up on 4 jack stands and have an assistant crank it up and run it in gear while you crawl around and listen. be careful and don't get hurt. tires can make a lot of noise, and having them off the ground will eliminate that possibility.

 

Is there any vibration along with the noise?

 

No vibration. My son works at a Toyota dealership and is going to take it in and put it up on a rack. Hopefully with a stethescope he find the noise. I'm guessing it has to be a bearing somewhere.

 

Well, it appears to be the pinion bearing in the rear end...anyone every changed these out, is it a pita? Might be an excuse to buy a junkyard posi unit.

 

Anyone have a feel for how much it would cost labor wise to have the pinion and carrier bearings replaced? The kits run about $100 and I figure if you're in there might as well change all the bearings. Thoughts...?

 

Might as well have ls installed while you're at it.

 

I've got a local powertrain shop that quoted me $600 to install a complete bearing kit...sound about right? I figure since it's apart might as well change all the bearings.