1. If your going to be jeeping/overlanding ....You need to get more intimate with the mechanical side of things. If for no other reason than first hand pretrip inspection. 2. If the lube shop touch that diff and i would be making sure i know what they put in what they touched and didnt touch. 3. Off roading is a really hard on things and shorter service life of not just mechanical components but the entire vehicle can be expected. Many people will tell you their rigs have seen every trail and every state without a hiccup. But that is not the rule it is the exception. Lots of people break something almost everytime they leave the pavement....
ASE master technician who has been out of working on vehicles a few years but the foundation for diagnostics remains .... when you had it serviced prior to the issues, did they change the differential fluid? If they used the wrong fluid, or under filled it, that can cause the issues you describe which sounds like to me it ran out of fluid and seized up. Other issues that can cause your problem (based on that assumption) ... if there were any leaks anywhere in the differential, axle seals, pinion seals, cover seals and it ran low on fluid ... will cause it. Those are all common wear items that need checked every time a vehicle is serviced. A common off road issue that can cause it is also if the housing got cracked on a rock or similar and all the fluid leaked out (very very common with off road vehicles). I have previously seen differentials literally melted/welded together from getting so hot (along with seized bearings, etc)
Some no BS suggestions if I may. If you're going to be overlanding, I would suggest you learn some basic mechanics, and at the very least go through your manuals and learn what your various dummy lights are on your dash; that light is a traction control light. Second, when your vehicle is smoking, you cannot simply keep driving if you cannot get into the shop for a few days. General rule of thumb is that if a shop, garage, contractor, tradesman needs you to wait, it is because they are good, and in demand. Years ago, Dodge had issues with their transmissions, especially the Caravan mini-vans. One of the problems, was that people were not using the Mopar ATF fluid, and when the non-Mopar and Mopar fluid mixed, it crystalized and ground the gears down to nothing. If you want to go to a discount oil change place, that is fine, but ensure they use the right fluids. Last, whenever you run larger tires, increase the weight with the tire/rim package, lift kits, suspension mods, overlanding gear etc., you need to seriously consider a re-gear. Speak to a mechanic, not the RUclips crowd...RUclipsrs will have you believing you can run 35" or 37" tires on the stock sized gears, or pull a 3500# trailer with a 2dr JK, or put a camper on a Tacoma, you can't and shouldn't. As your Jeep is a used and your unfamiliar with what the previous owner did, start from scratch. The rear is shot, buy a new Dana axle, make sure the gears are good for your tires, and you're doing fine. The new axle will be cheaper than the parts and labour to fix what you have. Also, if you ever buy a used vehicle again, get it inspected and when you 'build-it', make sure you go through lift, suspension, gearing and ensure the vehicle is set-up right! Best of luck!
My Jeep has 145K hard miles on it with few issues. I stay on top of all my fluids and as soon as I have any leak I look into it as soon as I notice it. Since I was going to be heavy on my JKUR I upgraded my Dif covers which are larger than stock and therefore hold more dif fluid. I have heard of people having the types of problems you are having when they run their jeeps hard. So the day I got mine I upgraded my dif covers and installed dif breather tubes which helps with keeping the temps down.
Pretty common situation, axle seal goes bad lube contaminates the brake pad or shoe swells up under heat and locks brakes up!! Nothing catastrophic tho..always get trustworthy eyes on repairs. Best of luck
If you will travel internationally soon, I would fix the jeep and sell it. The used car market is very hot right now and you could probably get a lot for your jeep. I think you could get a jl for a similar price once you come back to the us
Very true! I sold my 2006 Jeep Wrangler a few months ago for 2K over what I bought it for 🙌🏻 High demand & such a classic car I’ll miss it though ❤️ -Jen
Pretty reliable units. I'm guessing your guys popped the cover off. Wondering if either the ring or pinion lost any teeth. if either one of those goes south, it can really make a mess of the internals. Also, were you able to figure out if the leaking fluid was brake fluid or gear oil. If the brake assemblies can by saved, it seems like a used Dana44 can be found for around $500 - $1000. Quoted price seems kind of steep, unless they were going to replace it with brand new unit. Good luck.
The axle shaft was somehow stripped inside the differential, had to be completely replaced and rebuilt. End up getting some gently used OEM parts to save money. Service guys had never seen this before?? No clue how this happened? - Lance
I've changed several locked up calipers fluids leaking never happened. You'd have no brakes at all pretty soon after. Also have gone (not proud of this) a couple months on bad bearings. That's a pretty catastrophic melt down of a bearing if that's what it is. I could hear them the whole time so I feel like you should have had a warning before it got that bad. I'm just a do it yourself as needed and learned under the same circumstances from my dad. So there are mountains I don't know but this is odd. Have you looked into recall or ntsb safety notices for this vehicle? Also seems odd the jiffy lube type places could have done anything.
It seems to me that you had a wheel speed sensor go bad which caused the traction control to kick on which engages the brakes automatically.. which burned out your brakes .. i seriously doubt your housing in your rear differential.. plus you can get a used low milage diff from a scrap yard for like 500 bucks ,, whoever told you $7,000 is taking you for a fool .. there is really no way ot caused that much damage .. see when a wheel speed sensor goes bad the computer freaks out , omg we are spinning or losing traction bad and starts applying breaks trying to get all the wheels spinning at the same rate.. which it cant but it keeps doing it and breaks get hot burn out the seals in the calipers they begin to leak hence the fluid on the wheels . If when you first saw the light you would have clicked the little button to turn “off” the traction control you would have been fine until you got it to a good shop where they would have replaced the wheel speed sensor.. thats my take on it anyway..
The price is way to high .You can get used ,even new aftermarket for less . What gets me is you never mmentioned once once about hearing any noise. If it's that bad you would have heard something. Get a second opinion.They maybe right but that's still to much money. Jk used differentials are a little high but I would you should be able to get that done well under $3000 . For used. and that's probably on the high side!
Hi Troy - that's the weird part, there was no noise at all. Mot even when the Jeep wouldn't go anymore. I agree with you, we are looking at some used Dana44 options right now. Thanks!
The price quoted was way to high. With jeeps around 100000 miles it will start costing but it should be around 1000 to fix and depends on how you view it. Is the jeep family or a vehicle. I would put 1000 in to fix my dog why not a jeep.
1. If your going to be jeeping/overlanding ....You need to get more intimate with the mechanical side of things. If for no other reason than first hand pretrip inspection. 2. If the lube shop touch that diff and i would be making sure i know what they put in what they touched and didnt touch. 3. Off roading is a really hard on things and shorter service life of not just mechanical components but the entire vehicle can be expected. Many people will tell you their rigs have seen every trail and every state without a hiccup. But that is not the rule it is the exception. Lots of people break something almost everytime they leave the pavement....
Dana 44 complete axel assembly’s are easy to find for around 300 to 500 with a few hours labor to swap the old with the new. Under $1000.00
Yep, this is sounding more and more like the best option. Thanks!
ASE master technician who has been out of working on vehicles a few years but the foundation for diagnostics remains .... when you had it serviced prior to the issues, did they change the differential fluid? If they used the wrong fluid, or under filled it, that can cause the issues you describe which sounds like to me it ran out of fluid and seized up. Other issues that can cause your problem (based on that assumption) ... if there were any leaks anywhere in the differential, axle seals, pinion seals, cover seals and it ran low on fluid ... will cause it. Those are all common wear items that need checked every time a vehicle is serviced. A common off road issue that can cause it is also if the housing got cracked on a rock or similar and all the fluid leaked out (very very common with off road vehicles). I have previously seen differentials literally melted/welded together from getting so hot (along with seized bearings, etc)
Some no BS suggestions if I may.
If you're going to be overlanding, I would suggest you learn some basic mechanics, and at the very least go through your manuals and learn what your various dummy lights are on your dash; that light is a traction control light. Second, when your vehicle is smoking, you cannot simply keep driving if you cannot get into the shop for a few days. General rule of thumb is that if a shop, garage, contractor, tradesman needs you to wait, it is because they are good, and in demand.
Years ago, Dodge had issues with their transmissions, especially the Caravan mini-vans. One of the problems, was that people were not using the Mopar ATF fluid, and when the non-Mopar and Mopar fluid mixed, it crystalized and ground the gears down to nothing. If you want to go to a discount oil change place, that is fine, but ensure they use the right fluids.
Last, whenever you run larger tires, increase the weight with the tire/rim package, lift kits, suspension mods, overlanding gear etc., you need to seriously consider a re-gear. Speak to a mechanic, not the RUclips crowd...RUclipsrs will have you believing you can run 35" or 37" tires on the stock sized gears, or pull a 3500# trailer with a 2dr JK, or put a camper on a Tacoma, you can't and shouldn't.
As your Jeep is a used and your unfamiliar with what the previous owner did, start from scratch. The rear is shot, buy a new Dana axle, make sure the gears are good for your tires, and you're doing fine. The new axle will be cheaper than the parts and labour to fix what you have. Also, if you ever buy a used vehicle again, get it inspected and when you 'build-it', make sure you go through lift, suspension, gearing and ensure the vehicle is set-up right!
Best of luck!
My Jeep has 145K hard miles on it with few issues. I stay on top of all my fluids and as soon as I have any leak I look into it as soon as I notice it. Since I was going to be heavy on my JKUR I upgraded my Dif covers which are larger than stock and therefore hold more dif fluid. I have heard of people having the types of problems you are having when they run their jeeps hard. So the day I got mine I upgraded my dif covers and installed dif breather tubes which helps with keeping the temps down.
Aww man I’m so sorry to hear that :/ I’m excited for y’all to travel internationally for the next 2 years though!!
Oh wow, that is tough to hear. Second the Dana 44 though. Want to see you back out on the road.
We'll hopefully have a solution soon!
Pretty common situation, axle seal goes bad lube contaminates the brake pad or shoe swells up under heat and locks brakes up!! Nothing catastrophic tho..always get trustworthy eyes on repairs. Best of luck
If you go in deep water you can get water through the vent line
We are no strangers to vehicle problems. So sorry y'all are dealing with this! 💕
Thanks! Hopefully we have a solution soon.
Replace your rear Diff, there are plenty of Dana 44 rear ends used or new. Like you you said you don't need another car payment.
That’s our thought as well. Plenty of Dana 44’s that can be found.
Just go too the junk yard get a new one out of a wrecked Jeep, 300 bucks and your good.
Find a 4x4 or Jeep garage they’ll have a better deal with part/labor.
Any things tend to wear out. Of course, the repair price is high. But if you want a cheap reliable car, it should be Toyota)
If you will travel internationally soon, I would fix the jeep and sell it. The used car market is very hot right now and you could probably get a lot for your jeep. I think you could get a jl for a similar price once you come back to the us
Great advice! Thanks Vibhu.
Very true! I sold my 2006 Jeep Wrangler a few months ago for 2K over what I bought it for 🙌🏻
High demand & such a classic car
I’ll miss it though ❤️ -Jen
Pretty reliable units. I'm guessing your guys popped the cover off. Wondering if either the ring or pinion lost any teeth. if either one of those goes south, it can really make a mess of the internals. Also, were you able to figure out if the leaking fluid was brake fluid or gear oil. If the brake assemblies can by saved, it seems like a used Dana44 can be found for around $500 - $1000. Quoted price seems kind of steep, unless they were going to replace it with brand new unit. Good luck.
Thanks Mike! I think we are going to look for a good used Dana44 as the best option.
It would make me I'll if you spent 8 grand in another 35. Hopefully you upgraded to d44 or Ford 8.8
Have read all the comments - what was the end result? What did you decide?
The axle shaft was somehow stripped inside the differential, had to be completely replaced and rebuilt. End up getting some gently used OEM parts to save money. Service guys had never seen this before?? No clue how this happened? - Lance
I've changed several locked up calipers fluids leaking never happened. You'd have no brakes at all pretty soon after. Also have gone (not proud of this) a couple months on bad bearings. That's a pretty catastrophic melt down of a bearing if that's what it is. I could hear them the whole time so I feel like you should have had a warning before it got that bad. I'm just a do it yourself as needed and learned under the same circumstances from my dad. So there are mountains I don't know but this is odd. Have you looked into recall or ntsb safety notices for this vehicle? Also seems odd the jiffy lube type places could have done anything.
Yes, nothing on recall and we've done some upgrades so the warranty is pretty useless at this point.
It seems to me that you had a wheel speed sensor go bad which caused the traction control to kick on which engages the brakes automatically.. which burned out your brakes .. i seriously doubt your housing in your rear differential.. plus you can get a used low milage diff from a scrap yard for like 500 bucks ,, whoever told you $7,000 is taking you for a fool .. there is really no way ot caused that much damage .. see when a wheel speed sensor goes bad the computer freaks out , omg we are spinning or losing traction bad and starts applying breaks trying to get all the wheels spinning at the same rate.. which it cant but it keeps doing it and breaks get hot burn out the seals in the calipers they begin to leak hence the fluid on the wheels . If when you first saw the light you would have clicked the little button to turn “off” the traction control you would have been fine until you got it to a good shop where they would have replaced the wheel speed sensor.. thats my take on it anyway..
This exactly!
Oh no!!!
Oh that’s terrible! Hope it gets worked out.
We're working on it, thanks!
The price is way to high .You can get used ,even new aftermarket for less . What gets me is you never mmentioned once once about hearing any noise. If it's that bad you would have heard something. Get a second opinion.They maybe right but that's still to much money. Jk used differentials are a little high but I would you should be able to get that done well under $3000 . For used. and that's probably on the high side!
Hi Troy - that's the weird part, there was no noise at all. Mot even when the Jeep wouldn't go anymore. I agree with you, we are looking at some used Dana44 options right now. Thanks!
@@CrazyEmptyNest
Glad you're going that way. Good luck
The price quoted was way to high. With jeeps around 100000 miles it will start costing but it should be around 1000 to fix and depends on how you view it. Is the jeep family or a vehicle. I would put 1000 in to fix my dog why not a jeep.