I am getting a bad clunking from the rear end of my 96 2500 ex-cab 4x4 cummins. It is especially bad when turning. Feels like the wheels are locking up. I limped it into the shop but they cannot get to it until Monday/Tuesday at least. 187k on the truck? Am I about to get hit with a whole rearend rebuild? How much for the parts vs a whole reman axle?

Thanks in advance. PS--I should also say when it clanks going around a turn the rear wheels jerk.

 

Does the truck have a limited slip differential? If so, it could be as simple as a fluid change and adding a friction modifier. If it is an open differential, it sounds like it is time for a set of axle and spider gears. It is a fairly simple job that doesn't require removal of the carrier from the housing. Here is a link to a service manual for the Dana 80 rear-end. http://www2.dana.com/pdf/AXSM-0053.pdf

 

Limited slip differential. Hope you are right and the fix is rel. cheap. Thanks! Now I get a better night's sleep tonight than I did last night. Thanks again

 

Looks like it'll be a Dana 70 since you have the auto. In that case, if there's any wear in the carrier bearings, you'll want to deal with it ASAP. If they lose preload, they like to chew up the housing because the races will start spinning in their bore. Just a heads-up, as it's a lot cheaper to fix if it gets caught early.

 

Update--Rear end totally cratered. Found a used one from a truck that was running last month and is being parted out since the guy moved the motor to another truck with a blown motor. Difference is, mine was limited slip, and this one is not. Makes little difference to me anyway--I just use 4 wheel if I need to go and cannot. Seems like it will bolt right up and work fine.

2 questions--first, WILL the open diff work in my truck, and second, what is a good price? Donor truck only has 83 k on it, but it is body-rusted to death.

 

It will work fine in you truck, and with 187,000 miles on the old one, there probably isn't much of a traction difference between the two. As far as price, search www.car-parts.com- you can access parts yards anywhere in the US, and it will give you a fair judgement of what an axle for your truck, in your region, is bringing.

 

Thanks, Hodge. Checked online and I am getting a decent price. I am not stealing the rear end, but the guy is not gouging me either. Thanks for the tip.. It's a great site.

 

How much?

 

$650 + $50 to deliver.

 

Got the salvage yard rearend and it is in the truck and running smoothly and without noise. My old rear was a limited slip differential. The "new" one is open. Will this help fuel mileage?