Just got the call that the sickening grinding sound I started to hear this past weekend was the rear end. They are saying the side bearing(s) went out. I don't know if I believe them because the truck has sat in the same spot in the parking lot for a day. Truck has 38,000 miles on it and have had about 15 months. Thank goodness I have the Maxcare extended warranty. I assume they haven't cracked the differential to take an actual look inside, but it seems to me that if a bearing let loose then everything inside the differential is suspect now. The service writer is telling me that the gears are much harder and should be hurt with the metal floating around. I have 3.55 open rear end, BTW. I wanted to go for 4.10's but after reading everyone's issues with gear whine I am reluctant to do so. They will allow me to buy the Mopar 4.10's, LSD, and carrier to the tune of about $2,000 and install under the warranty. Thanks, but no thanks.

I have gone to this site

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...layCatalogid=0



Is an Axle Assembly the whole thing with all internal parts there? If that is the case I would just rather buy that and have it installed.

I am pretty torn on what to do. I have loved this truck since the day I bought it. It is the 6th Dodge truck I have owned in a row, and it was the very first NEW vehicle I have ever bought. But I have had more problems with it than any other truck I have owned. It is on it's 4th seat cover due to cracking, exhaust manifold cracked, exhaust header bolt cracked, a/c expansion valve went out, a/c condensor went out, a/c blend door actuator went out, main seal on the rear end was leaking, and now the entire rear end is fubar'ed. I don't want to trade, but it sits in the shop for at least a day or two every other month. This time it is out of commission at least 4 days. I get a rental car under the Maxcare, but I need a truck, not a car, plus I am spending 17.00 a day on insurance because I don't want to hassle with my insurance if something happens while I am in the rental. Those Toyota incentives are looking better and better everyday.

Bill

 

is bad.....my truck has been perfect so far as I know have many others. my wife works for an auto mfg and she gets a new car every few weeks due to the current situaiton with vehicle stock. to date she has cycled through probably 15 and we never had a single problem with them and she usually keeps them for about 5k miles. then the last one we had was leaking oil, freaking ruined my driveway, they said the crankshaft or something was cracked, anyhow the truth is that some care have more problems than others but your case is expcetionally bad I must admit.

your truck is a very early build but i have to admit if I was in your spot I would probably get rid of it and I hope I dont end up there, I have had mine since december but ony driven it about 2500 miles though most of that is towing a trailer. on the other hand you have a LIFETIME warranty and you will never be able to replace that. once you get everything fixed just imagine you keep this truck 20 years and the motor goes pop, you get a new one.

 

I don't have any whine with the factory 4.10 LSD in my R/T. Maybe it's just the aftermarket units that whine if not installed properly?

 

Bingo! I'll be back at 4 Wheel Parts bitching about the whine again on Friday.

Damn, that sucks that the rear end went out. At least it's all under warranty, and hopefully they're covering you with a rental while the truck is down.

 

I'd be suprised if the dealer didn't just replace the entire axle. It would be pretty rare for a dealer to do a gear install - normally wouldn't have anyone qualified and the labor cost + parts is more than ordering the assembly. Since you have a 2009, the rear should be covered under the lifetime powertrain warranty not the MaxCare.

 

That is what I was thinking, but the book is in the truck right now at the dealership. I am concerned about them having someone skilled enough to do the repair, as it is now they have a 3500 in for a rear end. I think it is an 08 and it looks like it tows often.

I just screwed up and have been Youtubing Supercharged Tundra Toyotas.

 

I wanted to go with the R/T parts, but $2000 is too much to bite off on for gears right now. Just put on 22" SRT's with new rubber. Might just pull them off and sell them and trade her in. I had a job that required a 4 door truck, but now I don't have that job and I have always been a single cab kind of a guy anyway. I wish I had an R/T, or now I wish I had a regular cab Tundra with the TRD supercharger.

Bill

 

Here's the warranty book
http://www.dodge.com/crossbrand/warr...PLW_2nd_Ed.pdf

And here is the part that states that your rear axle is covered on page 12:

Rear WheelDrive:

listed components only.

As for the Toyota, unless you have money falling out your *** - how are you able to trade in a 1 year old truck that has probabally depreciated past what you owe on it (38K miles in 15 months)?

 

 

Every dealership does diff repairs, it is an extremely simple operation. I've probably built 100-plus diffs. The only time a complete axle is replaced is if it has become damaged, usually from the posi clips falling out and grinding into the axle housing and bearing caps