Last week, my rear diff started making woeful noises. I did a rear pad job on the brakes (well needed), and it still made bad noises. Took it upon myself, and my son, to dismantle rear axles and replace axle bearings. While I had pumpkin apart, I cleaned everything thoroughly with brake cleaner and proceeded with new axle bearings. While still on jackstands I placed her in drive and heard the same nasty noise. All that was left was pinion and carrier bearings. Since I do not have the proper tools I decided that she needed to go visit a local shop.

Two days later, and 1,350 bucks lighter in the wallet and the noise has vanished. I was surprised at how few auto repair shops actually will tackle the pinion bearing. The prices vary from over 3K at the local dealership down to what I paid a local guy that came highly recommended.

Guess I will saunter off rubbing cheeks and skinny wallet.........

Gary

 

Gary, Move that wallet to your other pocket till the pain goes away

Sucks paying for stuff you know you can do if you just had the proper tools........I feel ya

 

Yikes! That is a lot of $ but whats a guy to do.

 

Just think what it might have cost if you had seized the bearing while you were far away from home.

My dad and I changed the entire rear end of a 1962 1 ton Chevy pickup in a police impound yard far from home with only borrowed hand tools and pieces of pipe.

McGyver had nothing on us.

 

Dads 2500 went south last about 2 years ago. Went to a local junk yard and pickup a used one from a truck with less than 100,000 miles on it and just swapped axles. Cost us about 6 hours and $500.00 oh and the 12 pack of beer.

 

That fix crossed my mind, but being a 4 WD I had to match the front gearing, mated to the fact that the truck is an 07 and few are available in the junk yards, the going price for a used diff and axle housing was $1,500.00, so the repair seemed to be the way to go. Now that I have driven it about 3000 miles since repair, I am getting a small whine at about 45-50 mph, but other than that it seems great.......so far........

Gary

 

How did you set the preload on the pinion bearing?

 

The repair shop performed that little ditty (that is why I put it in shop cause I dont have the time or tools to perform the set-up required).

Gary

 

I had the pinion and carrier bearings replaced at 150k miles. I do a lot of towing and now change the oil in the differential about every 30k miles using synthetic . Maybe not helping any but if it does then its worth it not to have to spend all that money for a bearing replacement again. Just thought I would add this for what its worth.....

 

Buy the tools and make the time. That's a lot of change for a job that is more intimidating to think about than actually do. Besides, it might add another 5 minutes to the auction after your six feet under. He who dies with the most tools wins! Make your kids work for the inheritance.