Or maybe the wheel bearings are starting to go, if you pull the drums as stated above to check the brake hardware, you might have grease in there, and that will tell you all you need to know.

Other than that, maybe just taking the cover off and inspect, clean and change grease. Can't hurt even if it isn't the prob, but atleast you'll know.

 

well folks as it turns out the pinion bearing is going/is bad. the gear set looks ok and has normal wear the lsd is equally worn but is rebuildable. I am thinking of just removing the lsd all together to save some money, maybe just puting it back in and worry about it later. It still has some life left in it.

Any thoughts?

 

The bearing is one thing, but if the lsd looks questionable, you'll possibly be breaking down somewhere. What about changing it to a regular 9 1/4 ? Easier to find in JY and abviously cheaper than an lsd.

 

There is a truck in a local junk yard that has the same gear and all but last summer when I had a diffrent issue with my rear end they wanted $500 for the whole thing rims tires and all. But no guarentee so what am I really buying with that? I might look around for a diffrent junk yard rear end next week. In the mean time I really dont need the lsd Its not 4wd and the most I do is pull a 1000 pound boat maybe haul an equal amount of weight to the dump. I can easily live with out the lsd I think. Or maybe I will park it for a month and just work a few over time shifts and rebuild it properly with all new parts including axle bearings.

The lsd isnt exactly questionable the shop just said it might be worth the time to rebuild it as long as its out. might be worth the time so I wont ever have to go back into the rear end again while I own this truck. Only going to keep it for about 3 more years then sell it for another 5 year old truck.

 

In that case, it's probably nothing to worry about until the seal starts leaking badly.

 

well stay tuned for the out come early next month. I will let you know what all ended up getting done.

 

I'm having the whining problem in the front end (2003 Dakota 4x4 all wheel drive), I changed the front left wheel bearing/hub thinking it was that. Still having the same whining noise. Starts around 60-80km, when I load the left front by turning right it sounds worse, when I turn left, the whine goes away!!
Any ideas?? could it be a CV joint going?