The rear differential has been replaced on my '99 Dakota 4x4 as well. Last
spring at the end of a 400-mile trip is when the diff bearings went out on
mine. I had it towed to the dealer after it suddenly started making buzzing
noises. The differential carrier literally fell out when they took the diff
cover off!! This happened shortly after the truck hit 36,000 miles, but
fortunately I bought a Chrysler extended warranty ("added care" I think?)
prior to the trip and I only had to pay the $50 deductible. While it was in
the shop, they noticed the upper and lower balljoints were on their way out
(3rd time!!!), water pump leaking (3rd time), and also the front
differential was about to fall off (loose bolts). The tech told me the
newer ('00+?) Daks had a recall on the front diff, but he's seen lots of
other GenIII Daks with the loose bolts as well. As for the rear diff - he
said it was more common on Jeeps, but nothing unusual in the Daks/Rams
either.
Right now I don't think I'll buy another DC product either, seeing how my
Dakota has been fairly troublesome throughout its whole life. Good thing I
got that extended warranty! Kinda weird though, we have 2 Jeeps and a
Plymouth Acclaim V6 in the family and all 3 of those have been *VERY*
faithful vehicles...
Has anyone else experienced differential and ball joint problems?
Darren Asuncion
Fairbanks, AK
'99 Intense Blue, CC, Sport+, 4x4, 5.2 V8, 44RE auto, 3.55lsd (8.25"),
4wheel ABS, 31" BFG All-terrain KO's
http://www.geocities.com/dakotaguy1999/
- ----- Original Message -----
From: "David Carmany" <thebeast@knology.net>
To: <dakota-truck@buffnet.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2002 6:18 AM
Subject: DML: doing a little whinning
> Excuse me if I vent a little. Welp had to take my truck in today for
> whinnning in the rearend. I had taken my truck in for the exact same
> issue 11 months and 22,000 miles ago. All my bearings in my rearend have
> failed AGAIN! I do no hauling and havent gone offroading in 50,000
> miles. I talked to the service manager and he was like most places give
> a warranty of 1 year or 12,000 miles. I say thats all fine and great but
> the rearend never made it to its first service! His response is again
> most places give 1 year or 12000 mile warranty. I am getting very upset
> at this point (I had this repair done at 38000 miles at a different
> dealership in atlanta and they got DC to foot the bill for the parts.).
> I say, so it is normal for a car/truck to have 3 rearend bearing
> failiures by the time you hit 60,000 miles. He goes welp I cant do
> anything about it beside fix it for $685. there is a lot more to the
> story but I am hoping to get in contact with the DC regional manager.
> Because of stuff like this I dont beleive I can buy another
> Dodge/Chrysler product.
>
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