Question: I have a 2000 Dakota with a 10 bolt, 8.25" rear end. 3.55 ratio. The truck sat for an unknown amount of time. I bought it last November with 78k miles. I recently had the muffler replaced and they found that the pumpkin was dry. We put oil in it, but it sounds like a diesel turbo winding up when driven. My question is, would it be more cost effective but still correct the problem to rebuild the differential with a rebuild kit, or should I spend the big bucks on a replacement? Could the problem be something else entirely?

 

Two ways you can go.

Is it 2 or 4 wheel drive?

2 wheel drive 8.25's should be plentiful in junkyards, and will likely be cheaper than a gear replacement. Main issue is that some years had a traditional yoke and some had a companion flange.
4 wheel drive 8.25's will be harder to find.

2 and 4 wheel drive 9.25's will be hit and miss to find, but would be a good junkyard upgrade.

The Dakota axle's leaf spring perches are 2" different from the ones on a durango, so they are not interchangable. The 8.25 from an XJ also does not work as I recall.

Otherwise, budget $5-600 on replacing the gears.

 

[QUOTE=magnethead;3575191]Two ways you can go.

Is it 2 or 4 wheel drive

Sorry, should have said in the description. It is 4WD.
I have only found 2 on the 'net so far, one is in the mid 400 range, the other is about 700.
I have seen rebuild kits for about 200, and those I don't have to have shipped cross country, hence the question.

 

Rebuild kits are generally just bearings and seals, if your gears are worn, that won't help. JUST the gears can cost north of 500 bucks...... replacing the entire axle with a used one is almost always cheapest.

 

You can also use a 9.25 out of a 4x4 Dakota as long as it has 3.55 gears.