Rear Axle Issues 2006 Dodge 3500 DRW

[Don Wilson]

I started hearing a growling/grinding noise from the rear of the pickup when I left New Mexico in early November but thought it was tire roar as I had the tires rotated in Goshen Indiana. Well I had a friend listen to it and then I got in the bed while he drove it and it was obvious it was more than tire roar. So yesterday I took it to get an educated opinion at The Rear End Shop which is the place all of the dealers here in the Modesto CA area use. Well It goes in for repair on Wednesday and if it is only bearings it will be $600 and if it is bearings and differential it will be $1,100. I gathered from the owner there are inner and outer bearings on the axle shafts and he feels one or more of those are failing. He did not think it was wheel bearings but will check them also.

Some of you who are more gearheads than I am probably have a better understanding of this than I do!!

Don

[sew2bhappy]

Hope it's the less expensive alternative!

[Don Wilson]

Me too Millie but my main concern is getting it right regardless of the cost as I do not want it breaking down when I am in the middle of no where and having to get the pickup or pickup and Cardinal towed somewhere and wait three or four days to a week to get it fixed!

Don

[Roger]

You are right in getting it fixed now.

Many years ago I had a BMW sedan while stationed in Germany. It had a noisy rear end and I kept ignoring it. One day driving down the autobahn at close to 100MPH it locked up long enough to shear a couple of teeth off the ring gear. BMW used a rubber coupling at the rear end which sheared, then the drive shaft rattled around between the road and under side of the car until it tore off the exhaust system and brake lines. Luckily it did not stay locked and I was able to coast to a stop. I replaced the whole rear end with one I found at the junk yard as well as the exhaust and brake lines. It sure would have been easier and cheaper if I had taken care of it in the first place.

[gmcbride]

You may want to check for recalls on your truck. There is a P77/NHTSA 14V-796 recall on my 2005 1500 that may apply. I just had $2,000 worth of rearend repair done by the dealer under the recall. Best, gm.

[dfredendall]

Don, I just went through this with my kid's 2009 1/2 ton Suburban. Rear End howling at 105,000 miles. Never used it to tow, not 4X4 or lifted, so all were baffled at "Why"? Bottom line, had it repaired at local Aamco where I have had tranny work previously. Pinion bearing failed, and one axle shaft needed replacing due to a scored seal surface. All gears were good, and axle bearings were good. We did full bearing kit with rebuild and it is quiet now. Cost was astounding, but "watchyagonnado?" $2200 to bail it out. Cost of living large, and cheaper than a new one.

[Mike Clay]

Good luck Don. Hope it's on the cheaper side also. I know how you feel about losing that warm and fuzzy feelin when something breaks. We will be heading out not knowing what will happen with these new brakes.

[Don Wilson]

Well I got the pickup back about 3 pm Wednesday from the Rear End Shop and it was the lower end of the cost scale. There was a bad bearing on the passenger side axle but they used a kit and replaced all of the axle bearings. The pinion gears were in very good shape so it did not have to be replaced. The final cost was $780 which included the labor, Bearing Kit and oil to refill the differential!

Don

[snoking]

Well I got the pickup back about 3 pm Wednesday from the Rear End Shop and it was the lower end of the cost scale. There was a bad bearing on the passenger side axle but they used a kit and replaced all of the axle bearings. The pinion gears were in very good shape so it did not have to be replaced. The final cost was $780 which included the labor, Bearing Kit and oil to refill the differential!

Don

Don, so that is not that bad!!! Now tell us what has you up at 1:01am in the morning????? Chris

[Don Wilson]

Well I got the pickup back about 3 pm Wednesday from the Rear End Shop and it was the lower end of the cost scale. There was a bad bearing on the passenger side axle but they used a kit and replaced all of the axle bearings. The pinion gears were in very good shape so it did not have to be replaced. The final cost was $780 which included the labor, Bearing Kit and oil to refill the differential!

Don

Don, so that is not that bad!!! Now tell us what has you up at 1:01am in the morning????? Chris

I am working on a Cemetery Project for the Fort Sumner Cemetery in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. I photographed every grave in the cemetery and am inputting the information into an Excel data base. It includes Name(Surname and Given), Birthdate, Death Date, Block #, Aisle #, Lot #, and Grave # and I got started on it last night after I got back from doing Santa Claus for the Marine Corp Reserves Toys for Tots drive in Tracy California and time seems to get away from me when I am working on it!

Don