Rear Differential

[falconace]

I searched, but can't find the answers to these questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have a 97 XLT with 141k that around a week or so ago started making a humming noise from the drivetrain. After some troubleshooting myself, I was pretty sure it was somewhere in the rear axle. Today, I took it to a shop to see if they could pinpoint the problem. They confirmed it is most likely a differential problem but wont know until they pop open the pumpkin.

I've got a few questions, first they said that I should expect it to cost around 1k to fix, maybe more, maybe a little less, but 1k is a safe estimate. Is that a reasonable price. I havent been able to find how much this should cost.

Also, given the expense of fixing it, and the vehicles age, etc... would it even be wise to get it fixed, or should I use that money towards getting a different vehicle?

Let me know, Thanks in advance.

 

[Creager]

What makes you assume your problem is the rear?

If you do have to replace it, do it yourself. It takes basic hand tools and a saturday afternoon. if you haven't done it before. Doing it yourself it wont cost anymore then $200-400 (unless yr getting ripped off), and a trip to the junkyard. Just rememeber to get the correct gear ratio

If you can change brakes, you can drop a rear end.

 

[Vanquish502]

Put the back of your truck on jackstands and put it in gear. Crawl under and listen. If it is the back axle, instead of screwing around with it, just go to the junkyard and pull another one.

 

[Creager]

^^^ uhh... don't crawl under and listen with the truck in gear, but this will definatly help discover any driveline issues. Remember to point the truck outside of the garage when doing this, just incase it does go romping off the stands.

If the noise goes away while its on the stands, then its the axle/brake/hub area. If it continues it coule be the transmission/transfercase area.

 

[mnealuf]

WATCH OUT, I don't know if you said or not but if your Explorer is late model 4WD or AWL buy if so put all 4 wheel up on jackstands or the slippage will engage the front and things will go downhill from there.

 

[rikguy]

same problem?

I also have noises coming from the rear end. The mechanic told me that it sounded like the pinion bearings needed replaced. My pinion seal has been leaking and it was very low on fluid. He told me around $500 to fix it. I can get an axle from the junkyard for $150. I"m not sure what else needs replaced if I go with the axle? What other parts will need to be bought/replaced? Is this something that I can do myself? I've done the AAL and new shocks.