Hey guys

Me being a Jk guy I'm not familiar with aftermarket equipment for grands. My father has a 2003 overland that a bearing is going in the rear differential. From searching online junkyard sites , it looks like they run about $1000 for the quadra-drive unit rear differential. The shop he took it too is saying that he should replace the entire differential. Do you guys have any recommendations on where to get one for a good deal or any recommendations on something else to look for or to do?

I would think you could find a GOOD axle tech to rebuild yours for about or less than $1000. Why change it out to something you don't know? A 2003 can't have much wear on the gears, so it would be just bearings. Unfortunatly, production bearings are not held to the close tolerances that replacement bearings are. After all, they want you to buy a new jeep!

Just my opinion, but I would rebuild yours, not buy a used one.

Welcome to CF.
X2 on what Dave stated above.

Well instead of my father fixing his grand he sold it to me for $3300 :) so now I'm going to get some work done to it. I looked at some online junkyard sites and found a rear end for $450 shipped but I think we're going the route of replacing the bearings in the grand instead of the used route. Does anyone have pointers on doing this job? My father and I are pretty well mechanically inclined so I don't see this to be a very tough job (I hope)

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Doing bearings is not the easiest job but certainly not the most difficult either. You will need access to a bearing press, bearing splitter, dial indicator, & a selection of carrier shims. From the factory the bearings are almost always over preloaded so different shims may be in order to not have them fail as soon again. I can say you need to be very careful around the seal area on the hydra-loc unit. I would also recommend replacing the seal assembly after you remove the bearings from the carrier.

Miles

Found my problem. It's the carrier bearings, here are pictures.

As long as you have it apart, use a stethiscope and spin the pinion and listen to the bearings. As long as they are good, you can just replace the carrier bearings. Just make sure the gear contact profile is right. This is adjusted with side shims.

If you want to go the whole route, a ring and pinion set is about $200 and an installation kit is about $150.