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93Dak
Dodge Dakota
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3/21/2004
16:24:45

Subject: Differential problems?
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I have a problem that I believe I have narrowed down to the rear end of my truck. I have a 93, 3.9, 4x4, auto. After I drive it for a couple minutes, it starts to shudder below 25 mph. On the highway, this is a vibration, and it can just barely stay in overdrive.

It is not an engine problem. The engine runs perfectly. I have put the transmission in neutral and the transfer case in neutral and let it roll, and I still feel the shudder. The shudder slows down the truck.

I pulled the front wheels and checked the wheel bearings, and they feel like new. I checked for sticking calipers on warped rotors, but they are working fine. I checked the brakes in the rear, and they aren't sticking either.

I jacked up the rear of the truck and put the transfer case and transmission in neutral and then turned the rear wheels. I'm not sure exactly what this truck is supposed to feel like, but this is what it is doing:

The left wheel turns freely. The right wheels turns for a little while, but then it hits something in the differential and takes everything I have to continue turning it. I can turn the wheel backwards slightly, and then turn the wheel again freely for a while, and then it hits again.

The two rear wheels turn totally independently from each other. Other rear wheel drive cars that I have dealt with will have both wheels turning in opposite directions when one is turned. But on my Dakota, the wheels appear to be completely free from each other.

Does this sound normal, or is there something wrong with the differential?



Josh
Dodge Dakota
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3/21/2004
19:58:10

RE: Differential problems?
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All that means is that you don't have posi. Have you changed u-joints or anything lately? There sometimes is a weight on the drive shaft, if it's not alined back up it might create a loud swirling type noise. Does it seem like the tranny is slipping? It's trying to get into the next gear and it kind of slips and then goes in.



93Dak
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2004
08:12:52

RE: Differential problems?
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The front U-joint has been replaced, but the rear one looks original.

It definately feels like the transmission slips and then clunks into gear, especially when turning a corner. I don't notice a swirling noise.

If I turn the right rear wheel by hand with everything in neutral, shouldn't everything turn freely?



93Dak
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2004
14:40:32

RE: Differential problems?
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Does anyone know if the rear wheels should spin opposite of each other when one wheel is turned? That's the way I've always seen differentials work.....



daddio
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2004
15:30:35

RE: Differential problems?
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that's an "open diff". our one legged wonder. not lsd.



ujoint
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2004
18:56:27

RE: Differential problems?
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thats definatly a ujoint! i had the same prob on my other truck before i bought my dakota, and my dad now has the same prob on his..i would get them looked at those suck when they break!



93Dak
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2004
13:58:50

RE: Differential problems?
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Turned out that the drum was warped so badly that it was dragging and catching on the pads or the backing plate. I just replaced this drum 6 months ago. Fortunately I saved the old stock drum, and it works fine. Strange.

Thanks for teh suggestions!



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