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VegasR/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
14:38:28

Subject: Help, ASAP!
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Message:
Ok here's the deal:

'99 Dakota R/T
(5.9L V8 duh...)
103k on it.

The rear (I believe) has been making a whining noise for a while now. I'm almost positive that the rear is shot, but looking for other opinions.

In reverse, I haven't heard the noise. In nuetral, I can rev the engine like mad, and it sounds great, no whine.

But driving, as the RPMs increase, the whining gets louder. When I get off the gas, it quiets a little bit.

Seems almost as if whenever the transmission is under load (accelerating), it whines, and the higher the RPM, the louder it gets.

Definitely sounds like a rear problem. Checked the fluid level yesterday and it was fine. Not quite sure if this is a common problem, and what the remedy is.

I'm hoping I won't have to shell out ~$2000 for a new drivetrain, so that's why I'm asking here.

Anybody else have this problem? I'm pretty mechanically inclined, so if there is any way to remedy this by NOT taking it to a shop, I'd be willing...

This is my first RWD vehicle, which is why I am unfamiliar with the noise..... ugh, FWD is so much easier to tear apart. (or maybe not?!)

Thanks for any input, it would be greatly appreciated.



VegasR/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
14:52:21

RE: Help, ASAP!
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BTW: I'm thinking it's a pinion gear problem or something...... definitely differential related. I *think* this is what it is....

Is theis hard to repair and adjust yourself? I've never dealt with tranny insides before, just engines...

Maybe someone here has changed theirs and would be able to generate a price list and a walkthrough on how to go about doing this?



.boB
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
14:56:56

RE: Help, ASAP!
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Yup, sounds like differential. You just need to get it rebuilt. I had mine done at 60K miles a few months back. With LSD, it was $800.

BUT, i cought it soon enough that the bad bearing didn't chew anything up. The longer you wait, the worse it gets.



VegasR/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
15:39:09

RE: Help, ASAP!
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Anyway to rebuild it yourself, or forget about it...?



Altays
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
16:17:19

RE: Help, ASAP!
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Hey, stupid question did you check your universal joints out first before you shell out a grand for a new rear end? Just a thought.



VegasR/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
16:26:34

RE: Help, ASAP!
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Hey,

not a stupid question. :)

I'm new to this RWD stuff, and honestly, not too sure about what to check for when it comes to U-Joints...

The truck isn't 'squeaking' though.... a definitive 'whine' as the RPMs increase...

I might have found a 9.25" posi differential for cheap, would it be worth it to try and replace the differential? Or is the pinion bearing/gear a different component.....?



Zach
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
16:43:31

RE: Help, ASAP!
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My R/T made a whining noise when I bought it used with 63k on it. It started at about 15mph and just increased with speed. It turned out to be a bad pinion bearing, so I had all the bearings replaced-$480 later it was silent.



R/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
17:08:56

RE: Help, ASAP!
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Message:
yeah, I'd agree that it sounds like a diff bearing, most likely the pinion. to check the U joints, try to move the drive shaft with your hands, it shouldn't move diferently than either the tailshaft at the tranny or the pinion shaft at the diff, if it wiggles, or has play, they should be replaced... but a thunk would be more likely to happen when going into gear with a bad u joint.
as for rebuilding it yourself, it can be a pain especially if you've never done a rear axle before, and if you don't know about backlash and how to match the foot print of the gear mesh, I wouldn't try this if you don't have someone that can help thats done a rear axle before... especially on the integral carriers... which is what comes in the Daks... the carrier is integrated into the housing, instead of being a seperate unit like the famous ford 9 inch. sometimes the case can get pretty tight, and needs a special tool to spread the case to get the differential loose. THIS is a perfect time to swap out to a auburn differential and a higher gear ratio, btw!



VegasR/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
17:24:38

RE: Help, ASAP!
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ok, so in order to remedy the problem, say it IS the pinion, would an Auburn differential solve the problem? How much $$ do they run for a complete setup?

I knew there was a reason I stayed away from RWD drivetrains... lol.

Basically I need to know what it's going to take to remedy the problem and roughly how much I'm looking at -$$$ to take care of it.... I hear shops charge from $1300-$1800..... not too keen on that.

Thanks for the input guys, keep it comin. :)



DSW
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
17:31:42

RE: Help, ASAP!
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Setting up diff gears should be left to the pro's or at least someone who has done gears before, they could be easily messed up :-( It's worth the money to have it done at a shop. I have had good luck with Adam's and Driveline Service, but not Dan's.

You might be able to find a complete Dak rearend for a couple hundred bucks at a junk yard, might get you out of a pinch cheap. Heck,,, I wrecked my 4.7 00 CC with a 3.55 9.25 rearend 4 months ago. It should be floating around one of the junkyards in Vegas by now.





another mark
Dodge Dakota
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5/02/2005
18:03:38

RE: Help, ASAP!
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It's your gears. U joints go thud not whine, at least all the ones I've heard go bad. Let a pro do it. Why did they go bad in the first place? Improper set up most likely. Unless you are doing crazy things in your truck to show off.



jay
Dodge Dakota
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5/03/2005
08:39:45

RE: Help, ASAP!
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it sounds like your pinion bearing. just buy the bearing and do it yourself. there is also a clip in there that holds your axles in that i had to change on mine. thats what made my bearing go bad was the metal in there from the clip.there is like three gears in there,not that hard to remember.you undo the bearing cap bolts and the hole gear setup comes out in one piece.you could take it to a shop if you dont feel comfortable doing it.



VegasR/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/03/2005
11:05:05

RE: Help, ASAP!
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Ok, I think what I'll do is this:

Buy a whole new differential from Auburn gear.

Just making sure my thinking is correct on this, it should be a 12 bolt 9.25" posi rear in my R/T, right?

So I'd need to get the corresponding diff. from Auburn (WITH ABS tone right?).

Anybody have any links as to where to get one for a decent price, and/or the model number(s) I should be looking for?

I'm starting to understand this RWD drivetrain a bit better now, thanks.



CP
Dodge Dakota
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5/03/2005
15:04:08

RE: Help, ASAP!
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Just wondering...4x4? make sure it is in 2wd and/or not in AWD if equipped. If you can hear a whine that well, I suspect you have the transfer case engaged. Be sure you are on a straight road when shifting in and out of 4wd.



VegasR/T
Dodge Dakota
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5/03/2005
15:10:32

RE: Help, ASAP!
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nah, rwd 5.9R/T w/LSD. no 4x4 or awd.





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