I am new to owning a Dodge. My dad gave me a 2001 Dakota SLT with the 4.7. It has about 82,000 miles. He was very careful about keeping up with and taking care of the vehicle. At the 50,000 mile mark he had the rearend serviced.

This past weekend it bit the dust. With little warning other than an intermittent groaning sound, it died hard. No one can tell me why.

Could driving with the overdrive off (during slow bumper to bumper traffic) cause this problem?

Parts, labor, tax= $3000 at the dealer

Doesn't seem like much that isn't getting replaced.
Carrier-$286
RIng and pinion-$778
pinion seal -$23
axle bearings-$117
axle seals-$39
cover (The old one got a hole punched in it)- $52
spider gears-$360

 

did the rear diff seize up? or did you destroy the c clip? both of thoes problems are common with the trutrak system or w.e its called. but thats when your running boost and launching hard.

the o/d would be unrelated imo. thats trans related.

 

looks like a complete rear end build does it spin at all and it might be time to put bigger gears in

 

No, it did not sieze up. When it died it also messed up some sensors for emergency brake and ABS. I had to put my foot under the rear wheel to keep it from rolling while I called for a tow truck.

I try not to go hard. I stick to the speed limit and with the OD off at the slower speeds, I am able to milk about 17 mpg from her.

 

"Parts, labor, tax= $3000 at the dealer"


That price is crazy go to a junk yard and get a complete rearend or buy some aftermarket gears and install kit.

 

probably had the 9.25 rear and 3K is nuts I paid 700 when mine went but that was from a respectable shop and they put a better LSD then stock back in it.

 

Might be better to find someone local to do the work other than the dealer or go find a good used rear end. ??

 

yeah i agree, a local shop will treat you way better, if you think you can do it yourself i would just swap out the rear end, same thing happened to my old mans ram and we just swapped one out from a junk yard and through some new springs and shocks and everything under her since we were there, wasn't a bad job either.