Recommendations - Shop for front diff work?

[Alhora]

Howdy, it's looking like I'm going to need my front differential rebuilt/replaced on my 1997 Grand Cherokee, 5.2l V8, Quadratrac.

Can anyone recommend a shop that knows what they're doing? She's a great truck, but really just a winter beater at this point. I'd consider a complete front axle swap if the price was right. From what I've seen online, the V8's came with 3.73 gears.

Who's been through this already? Am I looking at a thousand dollar job?



Thanks for any info!
-Al.

 

[Kunker]

What exactly are you looking to get done? New gears? New bearings on the old stuff? Ball joints? Seals?

 

[dwcjwerfner]

Those are probably pretty common at a place like Kenny U pull, I sold one recently that was not from a V8 I don't think as it was not an aluminum D44 rear end with the set but instead a D35 with limited slip and it was 3.73's but I did sell it to a Jamie who has the V8 and the aluminum D44. If the differential is in good shape the tag should still be on it, make sure to bring a scotchbrite pad to clean it up so you can read it.

 

[Alhora]

I haven't had a chance to take a good look at it yet -- I'd noticed a vibration in the front end over 60km/h, and it was wandering a bit. When I had it in for an oil change, they had it up on the hoist and couldn't find a problem with the front hub/wheel bearings. They put a guy inside and took it back up - the wheel was "hopping around" a bit, apparently from the diff side of the axle. The shop doesn't do much work on transmissions/drivetrains... They said they could take a peek if I really wanted, but I'd be better off taking her somewhere else.

Winter was over enough at that point, so I limped her home, and she's been in the garage ever since. I've kept the maintenance up, so she's in decent shape everywhere else, and since I've recently dumped a bunch of money in for brake lines and exhaust, it's probably worth getting it done.


So, it seems likely the gears themselves would be okay, but I've got no experience with what goes on inside that little pumpkin. Any advice? With gas prices so high, people are dumping some pretty nice fullsize pickups, CHEAP... Eyes are starting to wander.

Thanks,
-Al.

 

[Mlorint]

who looked at it? Most of vibration are tire related. Is your truck lifted? there is also a little ball in the front driveshaft cv that can go and make lots of vibrations.

 

[Kunker]

who looked at it? Most of vibration are tire related. Is your truck lifted? there is also a little ball in the front driveshaft cv that can go and make lots of vibrations.

Mike (above) did my gears/axle setup, and there's no vibes or any issues at all for what it's worth.