About to blow out my rear

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 3:52 pm

Not blow it out my rear...but blow out my rear.

Brought the KJ to the shop my buddy works out to have him check out the whobbling noise in the front. Wheel hub bearing needs replaced.

But he put it up on the lift after he test drove it and the rear is making a kinda whirring/whinning noise. So he suggests replacing the entire rear. $1500 his price for a remaned with 3yr/100K warranty.

My KJ has 80k on it.

Anyone else have their rear poop out on them?

Any cheaper options anyone knows of?

Christopher · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 3:56 pm

When you say the rear, do you mean the whole rear axle? cant imagine just the differential being that much.

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:04 pm

Christopher wrote:

When you say the rear, do you mean the whole rear axle? cant imagine just the differential being that much.

He said the whole rear...i was wondering why I couldn't just get the diff??? I don't know very much about the workings of the rear.

Christopher · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:19 pm

I would stongly suggest getting a second opinion and if so I would look for a junkyard axle and do it yourself for much less. I know around here a good one is about 500 bucks at a junkyard but I am sure you could find a better deal if you try. I dont have nearly as much experience as some on here but have done some axle work. Replacing a complete axle is preaty easy. I would ask him why the whole unit is bad.

KY Liberty · **Joined:** Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:46 pm **Posts:** 1195

I know he's your buddy, but that may not be the best route for you to take. Since you're lifted and do some off roading, and are having problems with the rear end, I would recommend building it. Go to 4.10 gears, and a DTT or DL, and a rebuild kit with new seals and bearings. Order some Yukon HD axle shafts and axle bearings. Shouldn't be much more than throwing the remanufactured stock rear end back in it. You would need to go to 4.10's in the front also, so that would be more money, but it would be worth it in my opinion.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:53 pm

sounds fishy, why whole new rear diff, most any can be rebuilt, new bearings etc.
Have you been through lots of water and never changed the gear oil ?
Go to someone else and get a good idea of what the real problem is, I mean I have had vehicles with 250,000/300,000 and still original rear diff?
Need more information before you start throwing money. Around here 300/400 and you have a used one, 2 hours labor (easy) and its in

Christopher · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 4:56 pm

tommudd wrote:

sounds fishy, why whole new rear diff, most any can be rebuilt, new bearings etc.
Have you been through lots of water and never changed the gear oil ?
Go to someone else and get a good idea of what the real problem is, I mean I have had vehicles with 250,000/300,000 and still original rear diff?
Need more information before you start throwing money. Around here 300/400 and you have a used one, 2 hours labor (easy) and its in

I agree the only other reason I can think of replacing the whole thing is if its bent or tweaked some how

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:11 pm

Christopher wrote:

tommudd wrote:

sounds fishy, why whole new rear diff, most any can be rebuilt, new bearings etc.
Have you been through lots of water and never changed the gear oil ?
Go to someone else and get a good idea of what the real problem is, I mean I have had vehicles with 250,000/300,000 and still original rear diff?
Need more information before you start throwing money. Around here 300/400 and you have a used one, 2 hours labor (easy) and its in

I agree the only other reason I can think of replacing the whole thing is if its bent or tweaked some how

That would be about it, and since from what he said the "buddy" never tore into it so he must be a superman mechanic that can see through everything and know that it needs replacing with only a test ride.

What all did he actually do to determine it needed a new rear diff?

dog_party · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:32 pm

Man, I did not have high hopes for this thread when I read the topic. Ha!

Please, for the love of all that's holy, don't replace the whole rear just because that guy heard a noise.

The last time someone said something like that to me...

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:56 pm

I just got off the phone with my bud. He knows about jeeps...I got to drive his TJ with 6" lift while he was checking mine out.

But the reason he suggested just replacing the entire rear (remaned or used) was because he doesn't have the time to pull everything, find out what needs replacing and rebuild it all.

Specially when he does it all for free for me. And if he did do the rebuild in the shop for me, I would have to be charged for all the labor hours. So the only reason he suggested throwing in a new rear is because it would be quicker/cheaper/easier for me.

I did read this thread http://www.lostjeeps.com/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=37965 But even to get in and see if that pinion bearing is the issue. We would have to pull everything out anyway.

I put out some searches for used rears through junkyard searches.

If i can't find a good one....thinking maybe a DTT with master overhaul kit. That would still be cheaper than the remaned rear.

tommudd · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:17 pm

BUT since he doesn't really know what it is for sure...it could be a 50 dollar repair, but you will be paying him 1500 because he doesn't have time ?

It would be easier for him , yes as for cheaper, I am sorry I would want to know before I threw 1500 bucks at him, I don't care what he drives :wink:

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:26 pm

tommudd wrote:

BUT since he doesn't really know what it is for sure...it could be a 50 dollar repair, but you will be paying him 1500 because he doesn't have time ?

It would be easier for him , yes as for cheaper, I am sorry I would want to know before I threw 1500 bucks at him, I don't care what he drives :wink:

I already know the 1500 bucks is not an option. I'll see if I can get it into a shop and have it checked further. A $50 part in the diff can lead to $400+ in labor though (not by him).

Most likely it will be a used rear or the DTT with overhaul done in a driveway. (pending others being comfortable with the DTT install).

Already got one quote on used complete rear $800 delivered for 3.73 gears. $1050 delivered for 4.10 gears. But I'll still wait to for better offers. Figure the DTT option would run about $700.

libby · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:40 pm

Do yourself a favor and take it to a professional. Replacing the whole axle because of one bad wheel bearing is absurd. And it's not that difficult or time consuming to properly install a ring and pinion if that's the issue. Myself and a friend put a DTT and new carrier bearings in the front of my wifes KJ in three hours. If your friend says he doesn't have time, that means he doesn't have the knowledge. Sorry to be so blunt about it, but I think it needs to be said.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:49 pm

So he wants you to spend $1500 b/c HE doesnt have the time to figure out whats wrong. :lol:

Thats funny.

Why not just drive it and see if it actually needs to be replaced? Can you hear a whining noise? When was the last time you replaced the fluid? Why not go ahead and do that and inspect it yourself. Look for high amounts of metal on the magnet, a decent amount of very fine metal is ok. If the fluid is ok and there isnt a lot of metal/no chunks of metal let it be.

If you do hear a whining then take it somewhere else and get it rebuilt for far less than $1500.

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 6:51 pm

libby wrote:

Do yourself a favor and take it to a professional. Replacing the whole axle because of one bad wheel bearing is absurd. And it's not that difficult or time consuming to properly install a ring and pinion if that's the issue. Myself and a friend put a DTT and new carrier bearings in the front of my wifes KJ in three hours. If your friend says he doesn't have time, that means he doesn't have the knowledge. Sorry to be so blunt about it, but I think it needs to be said.

I understand what you are saying. His specialty is breaks, alignment and suspension, not drivetrain. He did have a good enough ear to pick it up when he drove it considering I had no clue something back there was wrong. And when we put it on the lift and had it in drive...well shiver me timbers...even I could tell something wasn't right.
He could do it, whatever it is (till I bring it to another shop and actually pay for a diagnosis), but I would probably trust someone else to do a more skilled job.
As far as time.....he has the time...just not the time to do free labor considering he works on labor commission for the tickets he gets. So spending a day on my rig is money out of his pocket.

And a pinion bearing is a completely different, more time consuming, skilled job than a wheel bearing. If it were a wheel bearing, believe me...I'd be doing it myself.........again :wink:

Thank you for the input though

Quote:

So he wants you to spend $1500 b/c HE doesnt have the time to figure out whats wrong. Laughing Thats funny.

Why not just drive it and see if it actually needs to be replaced? Can you hear a whining noise? When was the last time you replaced the fluid? Why not go ahead and do that and inspect it yourself. Look for high amounts of metal on the magnet, a decent amount of very fine metal is ok. If the fluid is ok and there isnt a lot of metal/no chunks of metal let it be.

If you do hear a whining then take it somewhere else and get it rebuilt for far less than $1500.

Like I said,the 1500 is out, and I AM taking it somewhere else to get a second oPINION.

That is just the price he got when checking to see what a remaned unit would cost. I appreciate the replies, but ya'll need to actually read what is written.

He did check the fluid, which i changed in June. Still clean. And when I changed it, there were no chunks or even particles of metal. Haven't been off road since.

KY Liberty · **Joined:** Sat Jul 09, 2005 1:46 pm **Posts:** 1195

I just had the entire rear end rebuilt in mine. It was a strange wobbling noise from the rear that was getting worse and changed with speed. The guy that does brakes, mufflers, etc thought it was an axle bearing and so did the dealership. My guy at the transmission shop said there was definitely something wrong back there, probably a bearing, but probably not an axle bearing. When he tore it apart he found that the factory LSD had separated and damaged the pinion bearing. I wish you luck with this, but it unfortunately can get expensive.

Rebuilding it with a DTT and master overhaul kit is a very good idea in my opinion. That's what I had done.

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Tue Dec 23, 2008 9:07 pm

KY Liberty wrote:

I just had the entire rear end rebuilt in mine. It was a strange wobbling noise from the rear that was getting worse and changed with speed. The guy that does brakes, mufflers, etc thought it was an axle bearing and so did the dealership. My guy at the transmission shop said there was definitely something wrong back there, probably a bearing, but probably not an axle bearing. When he tore it apart he found that the factory LSD had separated and damaged the pinion bearing. I wish you luck with this, but it unfortunately can get expensive.

Rebuilding it with a DTT and master overhaul kit is a very good idea in my opinion. That's what I had done.

If i can get people to help me do it..its def the cheapest and best option. Still getting quotes on used rear ends. And still want to take it into another shop to see what they say...thanks for the tip!

Fulltimer · **Posted:** Wed Dec 24, 2008 12:52 am

See what happens when you leave Florida! :lol:

Terry

kvenner · **Posted:** Wed Dec 24, 2008 9:53 am

Jeep4me99 wrote:

Not blow it out my rear...but blow out my rear.

Brought the KJ to the shop my buddy works out to have him check out the whobbling noise in the front. Wheel hub bearing needs replaced.

But he put it up on the lift after he test drove it and the rear is making a kinda whirring/whinning noise. So he suggests replacing the entire rear. $1500 his price for a remaned with 3yr/100K warranty.

My KJ has 80k on it.

Anyone else have their rear poop out on them?

Any cheaper options anyone knows of?

So, I guess you won't be wheeling with us New Year's Day?

Jeep4me99 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 24, 2008 10:32 am

Fulltimer wrote:

See what happens when you leave Florida! :lol:

Terry

Stupid me

Quote:

So, I guess you won't be wheeling with us New Year's Day?

Nope...I guess that is definately out now :evil:

About to blow out my rear

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