2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Rear end trouble

[KevinLewis]

My dad has a 2002 4x2 withan automatic and has had a slight chattering in the rear end. He had the gear oil changed at a local transmission shop hoping that would solve the problem. Well the problem has gotten worse so he took it in to the dealership. They had to change the whole carrier and are trying to claim when the rear end was serviced the wrong lube was used. The service guy said thease rear ends come with synthetic and synthetic is the only thing to go in them. The reciept does not give the spec on the oil or that they added the friction modifyer. My dad called the trans shop and the say the modifyer is automatic but not on the bill.



What do you guys think?

 

[RustyJC]

The chattering is typically a sign that the limited slip doesn't have enough friction modifier to function correctly. Not enough friction modifier causes chatter. Too much friction modifier causes the limited slip not to function - it will behave like an open differential.



My wife's Durango exhibited mild rear end chatter from day 1. It didn't bother me since the limited slip functioned really well. Finally she complained enough about it that a little friction modifier took care of the situation.



Dodge recommends synthetic rear end lubricant for towing, but to my knowledge the trucks come with a conventional lubricant from the factory. I changed my truck over to Royal Purple 85W-140 synthetic (we tow heavy) which has the friction modifier formulated into the product. No supplemental friction modifier was required in my differential.



I really don't understand why the dealership changed out the carrier. If the problem was that described above, adding friction modifier should have eliminated chatter originating from the limited slip clutch pack.



Rusty

 

[KevinLewis]

I did not see the reason for changing the whole carrier either. Maybe it really tore things up inside. Today they told him they were going to charge him some sort of deductable for changing it.

 

[RobertMiller1]

it is a Dana 70 or Dana 80. Dana never made synthetic a requirement.

The handbook should tell you what dodge recommends, been a while since I read mine, but I do not recall it requiring synthetic, something I would have noticed.



Depending on what they think they are going to charge, I might take it somewhere else.

 

[RustyJC]

Look in the towing section of the Dodge owner's manual. Synthetic is recommended for towing applications. That's always been one of my gripes - on both my 1996 3500 and my current truck, I ordered the trailer towing package. That should be a hint to Dodge that I'm gonna tow a trailer. So, if they want me to use synthetic rear axle lube to tow trailers, why isn't it a part of the trailer towing package?



Rusty

 

[Dane]

Don't let them chatter...

If the LS starts chattering, get the modifier in there ASAP. The chattering sound is the LS clutches grinding themselves away. Chatter enough and the LS has to be replaced.

 

[KevinLewis]

I guess thats where we went wrong. we did not act right away with the chatter. And they already changed it out