530 miles locked up rearend

[Blue Goat]

I was driving my truck home from having the windows tinted on Monday. As I passed throught the red light in my home town, I down shifted to slow down. When I released the clutch, the drivers side rear tire locked up at 35 MPH. I stoped the truck, put it back in gear and it seemed ok except for a loud roaring noise coming form the rear end. Had to use the road side assistance number. It took 3 hours for the truck hospital wagon to show.



The dealer indicated a wheel bearing locked up due to low lubrican level in the rear end. The outer race turned in the housing. The solution is to replace the entire rear end housing as a unit. I am without a truck until Monday or Tuesday.



Before I took possession of the vehicle, I was assured all level had been verified.

 

[Whitmore]

The low oil level thing has been reported by quite a few members and it proves to us not to trust the grease jockies at the stealer also another one that is being forgot is grease in our presious few zerts that we do have



check everything, Kevin

 

[Sled Puller]

What is funny, is the dealer has a checklist that is supposed to be gone over, checked off, and made a record with that vehicle. Somebody ought to be fired over this.



Glad they got away from those Dana axles!?!?!?!?!?

 

[MCummings]

Blue Goat,, I think everybody should treat Dodge the same way you did. Run the truck on the factory fill (which is too low) then let the rear-end over heat, ruin the bearings, and have Dodge replace the rear-end.



Dodge trying to save a few dollars by not filling the rear-end completely.



Some lessons are learned the hard way.



Glad to hear your truck is gonna get a new rear-end.

 

[Scooby]

It would be nice to have DC pay for new rear ends for all, but the risk of death or injury isn't worth it in my opinion. Having just thawed out of another ice storm here... . The rear end locking up could have sent your tail-end around and, on an icy road, could have sent you into oncoming traffic or onto a curb of pedestrians or something else terrible.



I think you should watch as the guys prep the vehicle - or at a minimum get the service tech who prepped your vehicle to come out and meet you (along with the service manager) and tell you to your face that he checked the fluid in the rear diff. Then explain that many have been shipped low and a few have locked up... . then ask him again if he checked it - or if he'd like to double check it now prior to you leaving.



My 2 cents.

 

[MCummings]

Originally posted by Scooby

The rear end locking up could have sent your tail-end around and, on an icy road, could have sent you into oncoming traffic or onto a curb of pedestrians or something else terrible.

and there is the flip side... .



Merrick Cummings Jr