Need some help here, Rear end Question???

**jmeyer** · 02-13-2007, 10:11 AM

A couple weeks ago I was in NY and on the highway I heard and felt a clunk in the rear end. I wasn't really paying attention a figured it may have been a frost heave in the road. Didn't pay much mind after that.

Today, I am on the road travelling about 15 miles between destination on a mojor road and the rear end clunks hard and actually makes the truck lurch. This happened 6 more times in the next 5 miles. When this was happening, I was traveling in a straight line and not turning.

Are these symptoms indicitive of impending rear diff failure? I don't want to call the dealer and have him try blowing smoke up my you know what?

Thanks in advance for your feedback guys.

bestatchess · 02-13-2007, 10:17 AM

Yeah, I would take it to the dealer.

**jmeyer** · 02-13-2007, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

Yeah, I would take it to the dealer.

Just called my service manager, and explained the situation. He said get it in there ASAP and he is lining me up a rental as we speak. "Good luck getting it here", is what he said as we finished our conversation.

That made me feel really confident.

Anybody have a line on a new or used '06 or '07 LE, 4x4 king cab, 4x4, BT. I am really thinking about getting rid of this one and getting a new one. Pricewise, I think an '08 is out of the question at this time.

**jmeyer** · 02-13-2007, 11:16 AM

Definitely looking to get a new truck. I hope I can get it all lined up by the time I get to the dealer and not even have to use the rental. It seems there have been more problems with my '05 than I have had on any other vehicle.

Would buy another in a heartbeat though.

I hope this all pans out!!!!

**jmeyer** · 02-13-2007, 05:43 PM

Dropped the Titan off at the stealer today. Should find out tomorrow what the poop is on the rear end. While it is there it will be getting a new drivers seat as my fat butt has peeled the grey finish of the seat bolster material (PLEATHER??????) getting in and out.

Ended up with a 2007 Dodge 1500 with 30 miles on it for my rental. Yes 30 miles, the Enterprise girl said she just picked it up at the dealer before she picked me up.

Things didn't pan out so well looking for a new truck though. Salesman offered me $19,000 for a trade. As I paid $25,000 for it 6 months ago used with 6,300 miles on it, that didn't fly with me at all.

Then he offered an '07 LE Big tow KC 4x4 with the bed extender for $35,800 (Sticker) minus the $3,500 rebate. At the end of it all they wanted around $637 a month for 60 months. Not in my ballpark by any means. Looks like I'll stay with this one and keep dealing with the problems and looking for a better deal somewhere else. If anybody has info on a decent dealer in the Pittsburgh area, I'd love to hear it.

I cant believe he would not move at all on any of the numbers.

Motman · 02-13-2007, 06:04 PM

How was the weather when your Truck started clunking? Mine only does it in the winter on snowy or wet days...

Motman

**jmeyer** · 02-13-2007, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motman

How was the weather when your Truck started clunking? Mine only does it in the winter on snowy or wet days...

Motman

The first time it started it was cold, but the roads were dry and I was in the middle of a 500 mile trip.

Today, the weather is pretty crappy and the raods were moderately snow covered. I was in 2wd when it was happening.

Wallrat · 02-13-2007, 08:02 PM

After you get the new diff, get a trutrac installed - shouldn't have any more rear end problems.

**jmeyer** · 02-13-2007, 09:14 PM

Can you please give me the lowdown on the trutrac. I've heard a lot of talk about it and never really paid any mind. I never thought I would have any rear end problems therefore was never really interested in it. I'm not really one for mods since I usually don't keep vehicles long enough to enjoy them, but since the rear end issue, I'm open to suggestions.

On a separate note, I will say that I can not stand the slip light and the brake activation to stop the slip. I don't have the VDC switch and would love to be able do diable that feature. The noise it makes sounds like my truck is going to explode at any given moment. Case in point, I was coming up my driveway this weekend and it was a little icy. I was playing a bit getting the rear out to the side a little bit, next thing you know the slip light goes crazy and they brakes activated and straighened me out in a direction I did not want to go. Just about took a header into my bulldozer. That would have been a hard one to explain to the insurance co.

Thanks,
JM

trkconvert · 02-13-2007, 10:16 PM

since i have had my trutrac installed i have not seen a single slip light. and i have no problem getting my rear sideways as much as i want to so get yourself a trutrac

**jmeyer** · 02-14-2007, 02:19 PM

Just got back from picking up my truck at the dealer. Not the news I wanted to hear, but at least I have my truck back.

The service guy as able to reproduce the rear end cluck. The tore the rear end apart and discovered no metal shavings, abnormalities and the fluid was still good and not dark or burnt. While apart they cleaned everything and reassembled it as is.

On my way back home I could not get it to clunk again. The service manager said to keep driving it and call back if it happens again.

By the way, they ordered a new leather seat cover for me for the drivers seat too. Manager has never seen the leather peel but has seen it crack. There is also a recall on some harness in the rear door that they will be fixing too while its in for the seat.

Given the rear end situation, would you guys recommend the trutrac now or wait a little longer to see if the diff will actually fail in the not so distant future????

Thanks for your help guys!

g356gear · 02-15-2007, 08:54 PM

I got my Truetrac installed today and what a difference. Not a single slip light on the snow when in 2wd with VDC off. I checked out my stock center section from the differential and there was very little wear on the spider gears (20000 miles). I was surprised how small and light duty the internals of the stock diff looked compared to the Truetrac....amazing!

bestatchess · 02-16-2007, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g356gear

I got my Truetrac installed today and what a difference. Not a single slip light on the snow when in 2wd. I checked out my stock center section from the differential and there was very little wear on the spider gears (20000 miles). I was surprised how small and light duty the internals of the stock diff looked compared to the Truetrac....amazing!

This mirrors my experience.

**jmeyer** · 02-16-2007, 11:55 AM

Well, Call No. 2 has been placed to my service manager. Today, on drypavement, the rear end had another awful clunk while driving in a straight line under even throttle. About five minutes later I experienced a new event.

The truck lost forward momentum and the RPM's reved then something re-engaged and then clunked really hard as it grabbed. It even put me back in the seat a little. This was the first time that has ever happened. I just happened to have my uncle with me this time so I knew I wasn't halucinating!

Service manager can't get me in until next Wednesday. I hope it doesn't crap the bed by then. Now that he rear end has been ruled out, that leaves the alleged problem in the tranny, right????

Any thoughts now guys??????

Thanks for your help,
Josh

**jmeyer** · 02-16-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

This mirrors my experience.

Is there any way to disable the VDC if I do not have a switch????? That feature is really starting to annoy me.