I took my my 2000 Dodge 2500 van ....with Dana 70 (I believe) in for a growling sound that appeared to be coming from the rear of the van. It turned out it was actually front wheel bearings that were bad! But unfortunately the garage rebuilt/repaired (new bearings) my rearend ($1000)before finding the bad front wheel bearings. Ever since then it has had a bad chatter or grabbing when turning rather sharp like in a parking lot. The chatter continues for some time after straightening out and driving a ways. So far the garage has changed the oil and added the limited slip compound again. Now they don't want to do anything else. The rearend had NO hint of problems before this. It's been about 600 since rebuild. About 65,000 miles on the rearend.

 

If I am right, the chatter is coming from the clutch pack if you have a limited slip differential. Sounds like you either had a bad clutch pack to start with or someone did not put in the additive whey they rebuilt the rear end to start with.

Did you have the chatter and grabbing when you turned left or right before they rebuilt the rear end?

Do you have a receipt from the garage and if so does it specify any warranty?

Was there any verbal warranty expressed after they did the work? If so I would ask for my money back for the repair. Do you have a list of parts so you actually know what they replaced? DId they offer to give you your old parts back?

I have a quote from my dealer to go through my rear end and replace the pinon bearings and seals and also adjust to the proper lash for about $450. I do not think that includes a clutch pack but it covers most of the parts needed for my repair.

Who decided your rear end needed repair? When did they discover it was the front wheel bearings?

If you have any warranty that was expressed either verbal or written, I would ask for my money to be returned or go to small claims court in your area and sue these guys. Its likely that if its only been a short time and 600 miles a judge will rule in your favor. For the price you paid, you are entitled to proper repairs and it will be up to them to prove they did it properly.

Now you personally need to get the Van to Dealer and have them drop the inspection cover and inspect the work. Have them give you a written estimate of what the proper repair should cost and take that with you to court. Of course it's up to you what you do, but I would not put up with something like that. If they did work, they are entitled to something for that work, but if they did the work wrong, they should not be entitled to anything.

What makes me curious, is how long was it after they repaired it before you noticed a problem? If you noticed it right away, why was there 600 miles put on the Van?

Jason

 

If they only changed the bearings and did not change the clutch packs, then sometimes adding double the amount of friction modifier is necessary.

 

Thanks alloro that is what I was asking about the other day!


Jason

 

When they had it apart they said they inspected all parts and it looked fine. They just replaced the bearings. When I picked it up ..they said it's good to go! I didn't get two blocks and knew they did not solve the growling at all, didn't take it back until the next day because I picked it up as they were closing for the day. Before I returned I had searched the net and found a post about front wheel bearings sounding like it comes from the rear. Went back and asked to talk to the mechanic who did the work. After telling the mechanic that the sound was not cured he admitted when he test drove it, it was still noisy. Then got a puzzled look, that is when I showed him the printout from the net about bad front wheel bearings. He read it paused a while and said "Yes that could be it" ....immediately offered to replace the front wheel bearings with free labor. Then got a bit defensive about finding a "Catching" bearing when he redid the rearend when I said I am a bit upset about paying $1000 for something that apparently did not need to be done.

The new front wheel bearings cured that sound immediatlely. I did not notice the rearend chatter right away ....maybe 100 miles later when I was in the Walmart parking lot and turned out of a space and noticed the chatter/growl that is from the rear now. Took it back and they told me to drive it some more as the parts "aren't even worn in yet" Took it back again after a couple hundred more miles and they replaced the oil and modifier as I told them I found that on the web and might be a cure. Thats were we are at now...they said they would get back to me after doing some checking. I think it is actually getting worse.

Also, When I took it back the first time...they said don't worry,the parts are under warrenty.

 

Just the parts or the labor too? Parts are the less expensive end of the deal. When I rebuilt my rear end I spent about $300 retail in parts (bearings, seals, spacers, collapsible spacer, etc.) and half of that included a new ring and pinion gear set. So to put it in perspective for you, the shop paid about $150 for the parts and fluids (with their discount) and then charged you $850 for the labor.

 

Retail here the parts are about $250 to replace the Pinon bearings. I am sure I could beat that if I shopped it.

Here is where one of your problems my be. They use shims to get the spacing right in the rear end. The shims they need will depend on your rear end and its specs. Getting that spacing correct takes some experience.

It really sounds to me like you were over charged, but I have no idea what else they might have done. I have gotten a few quotes about doing mine including parts and labor and none were over $600.

Jason

 

I dug out the bill and it is about $400 for parts and $350 labor. I remember they said they had the parts sand blasted (must have meant bead blasted) to see they were in good shape...and found no wear, cracks, or other problems. I'm sure they would not blast the clutch parts though?

How big of a job would reshimming it be? I already talked to another shop who is willing to check it over for me. When I asked,the shop that messed it up told me the mechanic had done 3 or 4 of these rearends previous to mine. It almost seems to me there is something too tight. The limited slip is certainly working well as I have yet to spin just one wheel on the snow and ice ....they both dig the same. I cannot get just one wheel to spin even when I try. It was not that way before. I always easily had one wheel spin. Got stuck a lot.

I read that Dodge sometimes had the clutch packs assembled so some of the clutch plates were turned around to eliminate some of the LS performance...is this possibly my problem that they stacked them alternately as the manual shows?

 

If you have a bill for parts is it itemized? 3 or 4 is not a lot of experience. I do not understand why they would sand blast any of the parts if the rear end is constantly filled with oil. If your clutch pack was good, it would not have needed to be replaced. There is an inspection cover bolted in the center of the rear end that houses the gears. All you have to do is unbolt it to see the condition the are in and if any loose metal or if any broken bits are in there. That is a visual inspection. They spin the wheels and inspect the gears as they turn.

To really check the pinion bearings the yoke has to come out of the front of the rear end.

To disassemble a rear end, usually they take off the cover, drain the oil that should be in there, pull the clips that hold the axles in and slide then out so they can remove the rest of the parts. They really should not be disassembling a clutch pack.

Here is a link to how a limited slip differential with a clutch pack should work.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential4.htm

Can I ask, why you have not taken it to a dodge dealer? They are the ones who should be trained to deal with the rear end on your Van. Sometimes it might cost a little more to go to the Dealer initially but it can save you a repeated repair and spending more $s to have a bad repair corrected. At this point, I would let a regular dodge dealer take a look at it. Make sure you ask how many rear end rebuilds they have done.

Its also possible the shop you took it to, just swapped out the whole rear end. That is why I asked you about parts. Its pretty common practice for them to get a rear end out of a junk yard and just replace the whole thing. The problem is you never know what you are getting that way.

Jason

 

The apparently completely dissassembled the rearend and only replaced all the bearings and seals.When I initially picked up the van and I questioned the counter man and he told me they found a bearing that was "scorched"? When I brought it back I questioned the mechanic who told me he found one bearing that had a noticable "catch" ...I believe he said the pinion bearing. I was real sceptical right there and my fears came true. I have come up with every idea for them to get this thing straightened out including from finding the front wheel bearing problem(too late) to suggest changing fluid and adding more compound. This place has been in business in our small town for 60 years at least...it is part of a Farmers Co-Op.

I regrettably did not take it to the Dodge dealer because I just do not like the people who run and own it, and they seemingly overcharge. My parents bought cars there for many years and just bought a Ford because they did not want to deal with this Dodge dealership, but wanted to buy locally. There are people in town who buy their cars and deal with a Dodge dealership 40 miles away instead of the one right in town. That dealership sends someone over a couple days per week to pick up their cars and get them serviced when needed and return them. I did not think that Dodge would even allow that!

Anyway whats done is done....now I have to somehow get my van back the way it was...it is my work van so I really need it reliable. I don't feel it is reliable as is. I talked to the shop on Friday and they are waiting on some "expert" they know to get back to them on what to do next.

I guess it will need to be taken somewhere else and I may take them to court to try and get some of my money back. I lost my job three years ago and am trying to get a small business going and have no extra cash to be wasted. Don't need this van much during the winter...but once the snow is gone its on the road nearly every day. Thanks for the replies. I will post any new developments.