I just completed a 4000 mile trip towing about 4200 pounds. Now that it's complete I noticed a weird "chugging" sound when accelerating. Took it into a shop and they said my rear differential is tore up. I don't remember exactly what's wrong with it but he said it needs to be replaced. Is this the normal price for a job like this?

Rear differential work ain't cheap. But that sounds high. It also depends on the shop. I had one shop quote me starting at $1,100 for a pinion bearing. Another shop quoted me $600 to start.

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-=Stock, but goin' places=-

04 3.7 Sport.
Auto Trans
Yokohama Geolandar AT/S 235/70/R16
Garmin GPS on RAM Mount

Mileage Trend:

For Alaska that would sound about right if they are replacing all the guts with new.

yeah... those ice road truckers have to bring in those parts.

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2006 CRD http://www.UtahPowderCoatings.com/ http://www.gorecon.com/ I'm kind of a big deal.
RL rear bumper, ARB front bumper, Mile Marker winch, Power Tank, Skids by Mopar & Skid Row, RL Super Skink Sliders, 235/85R16 MTR, Air Flow Snorkel, DTT, 4.10 gears, Frankenlift II, Katskin leather, JL Audio stereo, Rosen video.

Wow. A $300 used rear axle would work here. Or $650 for a new R&P, new LSD, bearings and the standard $100-$150 labor for this deal makes me think you can find a cheaper alternative. Even a true-trac upgrade would be cheaper, or a full case Detroit or ARB would be cheaper.

Examples:
LSDs:

http://www.justdifferentials.com/index. ... fad4fd3e75

http://www.justdifferentials.com/index. ... cts_id=459

Install Kit:http://www.justdifferentials.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=23_40_158&products_id=3572

R&P:
http://www.justdifferentials.com/index. ... =22_33_103

$650 + labor. And that was going to one site, not comparison shopping.

Hit up your local 4x clubs for a member to do the work for you at home.... You can get this done for much much less, I'll bet. Maybe $800-$900 for an upgraded, not repaired, rear differential.

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LOST # 633
'05 KJ 3.7L/6spd/241 245/75/16 MT's
'88 MJ 4.0L/AW4/231 SWB HPD30 & trac-loc D44 w/3.73's
A dirty Jeep is a happy Jeep

Wait, so if I could upgrade this to a stronger unit, could you please tell me exactly what I would need to buy and where to buy it?

1st what exactly is needed? What was broken and not reusable?

If a complete rebuild is needed your looking at gears,master install kit,axle bearings/seals,possible axles,carrier/spiders(or LSD/locker),and then labor.Shipping to Alaska is not cheap no matter what you get.

Is the chugging the OP describes a symptom of a tore-up rear diff? Sounds more like a U-Joint to me.

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In this war of lines, so many have been crossed. Where will it all stop?

2006 Deep Beryl Green CRD Sport *SOLD 1/22/12*
Provent, V6 Airbox, Fumoto, Samcos, GDE ECO & TCM Tune, Euro JK TC, Magnaflow Catback
245/70/16 Destination A/T's
Boiler's Radiator Skid Plate
Jeepin' By Al 2.5 inch Adjust-A-Strut Lift, JBA Gen 4.5 UCA's (6/5/10)

Those links would cover pretty much everything:

New LSD or locker carrier
New ring & pinion
new master install kit
$650 or so in parts.

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LOST # 633
'05 KJ 3.7L/6spd/241 245/75/16 MT's
'88 MJ 4.0L/AW4/231 SWB HPD30 & trac-loc D44 w/3.73's
A dirty Jeep is a happy Jeep

Got axle seals,axle bearings,and axles to ne included if that much carnage ensued.Your talking closer to $1000-$1200 in parts alone.

or at least not a totally dead diff - I'd look for a second opinion

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2005 CRD
stuff
Skeptic quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur

I don't know if they are in alaska or if theres a place close enough... but you can get a used rear for like 100 dollars and up... I changed my own rear in my driveway in about 6 hours with a couple of friends passing me parts / tools... The first place I check is car-part.com... its a huge list of auto wreckers and sort by price... I find I get the best deals that way.. I go and inspect the parts at whatever yard it is... and 20 / 20 times its worked out GRREAT!