Got A Work Van On GovDeals Today!

[EastCoastCB]

Its not a wheel bearing. I got up under the van and its most definitely emanating from the pinion area of the diff.
Been watching videos and its not a job I wana get into myself.

[Brewerbob]

Bad wheel bearings are the only thing I've had experience with and it sounded the same. Like I said, it would be the lesser of two evils. This poor kid bought his used Jeep making that sound. He thought it was a jeep thing.

[Twigg]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Its not got the 3rd member you have to totally dissect the diff to get to the pinion bearings, which are audibly bad when you spin the driveshaft. There are countless vids of dodge owners demonstrating it on youtube its such a common failure. No wiggle in it at all, no leakage. They just fail. The fluid in the diff looks nearly new and is full.
I can't even hear phone calls or the radio in this van the noise is so loud.

There are two videos of a real expert doing this job too. It's a big job, but with care you can do it.

[cadillackid]

that sucks I never realized these didnt have 3rd members.. for some reason I always thought chrysler did.. maybe im thinking of ford 9"'s. I know GM's were a PITA.. C-clips and shims..

I didnt watch a whole video of one of these being rebuilt.. does it use a crush sleeve on the pinion?

getting the pinion depth correct is probably the hardest part of one of these.. I can understand not want to tackle it.. the first time i did it, i actrually watched thew VCR tape that came with my ring and pinion set about 10 times (yeah back in the day a ring and pinion set would come with a VHS tape to tell you how to set it up. ).. totally boring but thorough it was...
-Christopher

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

that sucks I never realized these didnt have 3rd members.. for some reason I always thought chrysler did.. maybe im thinking of ford 9"'s. I know GM's were a PITA.. C-clips and shims..

I didnt watch a whole video of one of these being rebuilt.. does it use a crush sleeve on the pinion?

getting the pinion depth correct is probably the hardest part of one of these.. I can understand not want to tackle it.. the first time i did it, i actrually watched thew VCR tape that came with my ring and pinion set about 10 times (yeah back in the day a ring and pinion set would come with a VHS tape to tell you how to set it up. ).. totally boring but thorough it was...
-Christopher

Ain't gonna help you ECCB but I had an 80? Dodge van that the seller had put sawdust in the rear end to quiet the noise? It didn't make a sound until the wood was pure pulp???
Christopher. Did you actually use ford 9's in a ford?
I have a ford c6 question if you have any knowledge?

[cadillackid]

Originally Posted by Jolly Roger bus 223

Ain't gonna help you ECCB but I had an 80? Dodge van that the seller had put sawdust in the rear end to quiet the noise? It didn't make a sound until the wood was pure pulp???
Christopher. Did you actually use ford 9's in a ford?
I have a ford c6 question if you have any knowledge?

nada I never used ford 9's in a ford.. used em in a couple chevies.. one with a built 400 trans and the other with a 4L80E. the C6 is one transmission i never studied much about..
-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

One of Roxy's favorite massage client's husband is native Floridian and has a nice lil shop not too far away. I called him today and he said he can get on it tomorrow, so after I'm done mowing in the afternoon I'm gona limp the van over to his shop.
Since its all coming apart anyhow I'm gonna go ahead and spring for a 3.90 ring and pinion set. Will be much better around town and for towing. This thing hardly will ever see more than 60 mph anyway.

[Kubla]

Wow, paid 175 for the rear axle for my 96 Fleetwood brougham

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Kubla

Wow, paid 175 for the rear axle for my 96 Fleetwood brougham

After a day of calling around, NO ONE in FL has this rear end. Its an odd, one year only rear end for this van.
After a ton of digging online I found one used for $1400.

Just got an email offering me a reman unit for 2 grand.
I think I'll see what mom n pop want to replace the r&p and bearings.

[EastCoastCB]

A 2011 seems to have the same noise in this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFRknVJpbfc

[cadillackid]

why do you need a whole new rear?
a new ring and pinion set and bearings.. cant even find those?
doesnt your carrier hold a lower ratio gear set?

-Christopher

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

why do you need a whole new rear?
a new ring and pinion set and bearings.. cant even find those?
doesnt your carrier hold a lower ratio gear set?

-Christopher

I don't need a whole rear, just got a price for the eff of it.
2003 Ram Van half ton rear ends are apparently made of unobtainium.
Going to take it to a mom n pop shop and have em put in new r&p and bearings. Its got 3.55 now, but that's not low enough at all, so 3.90 it shall be since its getting replaced. Should help with pulling out into traffic, as well as towing.

[EastCoastCB]

Well- that was sort of a fiasco.
"mom and pop" were crazy with the prices. They said they only swap in used rear ends, and that it would be 1000-1600. They could only find one rear end for a 2003 half ton dodge van in the country- and its a thousand bucks.
I left in disgust.
Stopped at a local transmission specialist expecting to hear huge numbers, but they're pretty honest folks and told me that if its just the pinion bearing it will be $250-$300 and if they have to rebuild the entire rear end it will be $650.
I left the van with them!!

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Well- that was sort of a fiasco.
"mom and pop" were crazy with the prices. They said they only swap in used rear ends, and that it would be 1000-1600. They could only find one rear end for a 2003 half ton dodge van in the country- and its a thousand bucks.
I left in disgust.

And that was the friendly price. Phfft.

it will be $250-$300 and if they have to rebuild the entire rear end it will be $650.

Any reason you can't replace it all with the 2001 that is ubtainiumalldaylong? Fill in the blank with whatever the common year is and replace the entire rear end?


What does the 2003 Durango use? There's a 2003 in the jy near me.

2 near you. https://www.lkqpickyourpart.com/loca...o-134/recents/

[Kubla]

I bought a truck on govdeals today
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...5&acctid=8555#

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Brewerbob

And that was the friendly price. Phfft.

Any reason you can't replace it all with the 2001 that is ubtainiumalldaylong? Fill in the blank with whatever the common year is and replace the entire rear end?


What does the 2003 Durango use? There's a 2003 in the jy near me.

2 near you. https://www.lkqpickyourpart.com/loca...o-134/recents/

200-650 for new bearings or full rebuild sounds better than another maypop. Dodge rear ends are FAMOUS for this very failure I've experienced.
A 2001 dodge van rear won't work. Different brakes. I guess I could switch and live with having drums and a pinion bearing ready to go at any time, but to me having the local shop that seems to actually be competent do the job seems like the best bet for the money.
Durango or Ram truck rear ends won't fit, the van has a wider rear end.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Kubla

I bought a truck on govdeals today
https://www.govdeals.com/index.cfm?f...5&acctid=8555#

Its addictive!

Congrats, man!

[cadillackid]

nice!! great cheap beater truck!! good deal
-Christopher

[Brewerbob]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Durango or Ram truck rear ends won't fit, the van has a wider rear end.

Well that sucks.

[EastCoastCB]

Just got a call from the transmission shop. My rear end is rebuilt and the van is ready to go. He said everything was clean and pristine, except that the bearing were absolutely shot. Typical Dodge. The internet was right on, everyone's dodge half ton seems to have premature pinion bearing failure.

I'm so glad I went this route. I hate junkyards, especially when its more expensive to buy used parts than to actually fix it!