My dodge 2004.5 let me down. Sold my 2000 v10 dodge down in colorado,so i put it on a trailer and hooked up my cummins.On the way down from minnesota i noticed a slight clicking in the drivers front tire,no big deal.Well unloaded it made it half way back and she went out.Could not even move it ginded terrible ,wobbled all over.So i call my brothe to come out to murdo sd. to pick me up.So had to put my dodge on the trailer and hook it up to his 2005 ford f350,boy did that make me mad.So now what do i take it to dodge and get it fixed or find a smaller outfit to do it?Any idea on the cost?

 

If im right your looking at a outer hub wheel bearing. My uncle had his done after a similar situation at the dodoge dealer it was around 1200.00 a side. parts could not be found at a salvage yard anywhere. So he had to buy all oem parts brand new.check around your area might have the parts. Yeah theres nothing worse than getting towed by a ford. At least you didint have to have it towed $$$. The ford probaly barley pulled the dodge.

 

No pulled it with ease at less rpm on tow at 75mph. The 2500 must not be able to handel the weight of a cummins?

 

Yeah unfortunately the unit hubs are one of the key weak points of these trucks.

I think it was just mentioned on another thread that autoparts stores now sell a unit bearing hub that can be used as a replacement. At a cost of around $200, as opposed to $300+ that dodge wants for the OEM part? And then you could take it to an independent shop to get fixed. $1200 per side including labor?? Sounds like someone really got ripped, wow.

Another option is to go the Dynatrac route (replacement hubs), but that's about $1800. But at least you have more piece of mind - the replacement bearings are very cheap and easy to find most anywhere.

How many miles elapsed between when you first started hearing the clicking noise, and when the wheel locked up?

 

100 miles and it still moves but leans way in.

 

How many miles do you have on the truck total? Because if it is less than 70,000, I am pretty sure DC or the dealership it came from should be picking up the tab on that one...

Derek

 

yes it about 395.00 for the main parts but once there in there they replace everything ,parts are around 600.00 total , labor is the killer the shops in my area are getting 145.00 per hour what a ripp espcially when the mechanic only gets about 20.00 of that and they start the clock right when the truck is being pulled in

 

112000 miles gusse its about shot, probably going to start nickle and diming me.38000.00 dollar truck should run 200,000

 

Guess what's about shot? The truck, or the hubs? I would say hubs, yes...truck, NO WAY! I don't know if you have seen me post it before in here or not (I have about 5 times now on numerous threads) but my father's 99' has 450K+ on it...so I wouldn't give up on your truck!

Derek

 

will i be doing bearing every 100,000 miles? Ball joins evry 60,000,tranny every 120,000,getting stranded might be cheaper to ditch it and get a new truck.

 

Upgrade to the Dynatrac hubs and you'll never have to replace them again. You're just looking at $40 bearings to replace periodically (someone correct me if im wrong). I think Chevy uses the same unit hubs that Dodge uses, so it's not just a prob with our trucks.

Ball joints are a toss up, Ive heard of several cases where they last over 100k miles. If you replace them with a better set of aftermarket joints, they'll probably last longer. Regardless though, it's a wear part. And they shouldn't cause you to be stranded - just make sure you check them periodically for play. ( I would think the same goes for the hubs, but maybe in some cases they fail all of a sudden and not gradually??)

And what's this about replacing the tranny every 120k? Not sure which tranny you have, but the 48RE seems to be pretty reliable for the most part - assuming you do your maintenance (and of course assuming a stock truck)

 

Prob. going to be alright just mad bout being stranded.Will definitly be looking for aftermarket parts,I dont want this problem agian.

 

Do you know what the price is on the dynatrac free spin hub? Looked at the website but no prices listed.

 

I think the website has links to their vendors.

Last time I checked, the price was around $1800. I know there's at least one other company that makes a comparable product, and it's around $1,000 (not sure if it's on the market at this time though).

If you take into consideration that the stock unit hubs are around $350 each, then that means the upgrade cost is more like $1100. And of course there's the fuel savings, and the benefit of not having to replace the expensive unit hub assembly again....

 

How are the bearings installed in the hub unit?(pressed in,snap ring, or just installed with seal pressed in like a normal rotor would be?)If theres a bearing in the hub there has got to be a way for it to come out.Im not a rocket scientist but im pretty sure that dodge didnt forge a hub around a bearing.If the bearing will come out you can get a new one at motion industries for alot less than what even autozone etc charges.