Was on my way to NC from Ga last week; driving my '00 Dodge Durango SLT+ 4.7L; got right inbetween Florence and Dillion SC when the rear differential let go. Loud pop, some grinding, and lots of smoke. Oh and it was 1:30 AM on I-95. So it gets towed to a shop just east of South Of The Border South Carolina. Had to have my inlaws come down fro Fayetteville NC to get us. Rented a 2011 Dodge Caravan (what a PIG that thing is) to get us back to south Ga. Had to leave the Durango at the shop. Had them do the work on it since all my tools were 400 miles away. Well, as it turns out, my Durango is "special". Apperantly Dodge only made a handful of 4.7L, AWD, Durangos with the factory heavy duty towing package. The rear, as it turns out, has MUCH larger brakes and 4.7L AWD, with the HD towing has a very specific gear set. So after its all said and done, the rear cost me $900.....USED. It had to be shipped from somewhere out in the midwest. And for the record, the original axle housing is no good. The pinion bearing siezed and spun inside the housing eating the race and galling the housing. That led to the diff munching parts. Well, yesterday, I drove the Cherokee up to the shop to pick up my D. I have a tow bar for the Jeep so I just hooked it up to the Dodge and came on home. I had the 200 LB old axle tossed in the back of the Jeep. The Jeep ran perfectly, got just under 380 miles to a tank running about 65 to 70MPH the whole way.

 

I don't even get 330 miles per tank with a stock 2wd.

 

Guess I should of added that I was at 1/4 tank when I filled up. The trip counter had 332 when I stopped with just under 1/4 tank left. I figured I could get about another 50 miles with what I had in the tank but I dont tempt fate with that. I zero the counter every time I fill up. 380 is a rough estimate.

 

Tore the old rearend apart....the FWD pinion bearing munched its self and the debris got chewed up between it and the ring gear.


Whats left of the bearing


Pinion gear shaft is galled real bad....


bad pic but there is melted metal on the teeth surfaces

 

nothing to say other than that sucks

 

After having torn down the old rear completely, the only "damage" to the housing is the FWD pinion bearing race is galled up a bit. So, Ill start buying bits and pieces and start rebuilding it afterall. Plans are to throw in either a LSD or a locker and toss the drums for discs. The old carrier, ring and pinion are boat anchors now, but Ill be keeping the 3.55 ratio since I dont want to have to tear the front apart. Still a stoopid Dode but either you love ChryCo cars/trucks or you hate them. I love mine.......

 

I thought the HD towing package always came with 3.92 gears. My Durango has 3.92 with the 5.9L engine, LSD & AWD. Talk about a hog!

 

I guess the 4.7s had 3.55 gears. Its on a tag on the housing and stamped on the ring gear. Im guessing yours is an R/T? Its a pig alright but it pulled my XJ like it wasnt even there. Used just under 1 1/2 tanks of gas from Latta SC to Fayetteville NC back to Barney GA.

 

Yeah, it's an R/T and I bought it specifically as a tow pig since I can't see myself daily-driving a pickup truck. Didn't know what I was getting myself into. 10mpg ain't cool around town! But I love the body lines and she's grown on me these past 4 years.

On another note, I hear that the 4.7 is a pretty decent V8. I've never owned one but this is my 2nd 5.9L.

 

Hey station wagon get a 5.2 cam for your truck and it'll wake up a little belive it or not. The 5.9 got a smaller cam than the 5.2 to help it pass emissions.....

 

This is my 2nd Durango as well. Had a '99 5.2. Good truck but didnt do too well against the Exploder Sport that hit it just in front of the front tire, however the Ford didnt fair too well either. Id rather have the 318 or the 360 as there is not much aftermarket support for Chryslers first cammer v-8 mod motor.

 

There isn't a lot of support for the magnum line either, it's out there, just gotta pay for it

 

Not gonna happen, but thx.
Edit: That sounds a bit dismissive & isn't intended to be. What I meant was I'm not modding the Dodge. The XJ takes all my car money, lolz. I have a full Craig's List K&N FIPK waiting to go in & that's it.

 

If you are intrested in hopping up the D, if you havent already, hit up dakota-durango.com. Its a Dak and Durango forum. Lots of links to good parts suppliers. I got my Gibson shorties for my 4.7 days after they were released and the only supplier at the time was directly affiliated with dakota-durango.com. Good site, not unlike CF!!