Super Warrantman
Member
- 235
- 2
- 18
- Location
- Dayton, OH
It looks like I won’t be able to drive my good old Army truck to the Military show in Findlay this weekend. I finally took it in the Dave-Dennis Chrysler Dodge Jeep here in Dayton OH to have a professional mechanic look at it to see why it makes a clicking noise in the front end when the truck is moving and he tells me that the ring and pinon gear for the front differential are shot and have to be replaced. Naturally, he also says he’s not sure if parts are available through the normal Chrysler parts system anymore for a vehicle that old. The front differential is a Dana 44 which has the reputation of being a relatively sturdy and well built unit, but it seems even they can fail. The mechanic will put them in for me if I can get the parts. It’s the first vehicle that I have ever owned though in 50 years of driving that needs that kind of work.
I need to explore my options.
What would be best, scoring a complete front axle or just a pumpkin? Dana 44s can’t be that uncommon as Dodge had 4x4s in the civy market as well? Would local wrecking yards have them?
Would it be easy to score a ring and pinon? Who would be likely to have one if Chrysler Parts doesn’t list them anymore?
I have the 20P parts manual which has the NSN as well as the Chrysler part number. Would that be useful to approach the parts man with at the dealership? They have this computerized inventory data base that they check the part number against to see if it is still available or has been superseded. I haven’t had too much luck in the past with doing this for the same truck for some other parts, but maybe it depends upon which dealer one uses. Some are willing to work with you.
Any ideas or suggestions, fellas?
I need to explore my options.
What would be best, scoring a complete front axle or just a pumpkin? Dana 44s can’t be that uncommon as Dodge had 4x4s in the civy market as well? Would local wrecking yards have them?
Would it be easy to score a ring and pinon? Who would be likely to have one if Chrysler Parts doesn’t list them anymore?
I have the 20P parts manual which has the NSN as well as the Chrysler part number. Would that be useful to approach the parts man with at the dealership? They have this computerized inventory data base that they check the part number against to see if it is still available or has been superseded. I haven’t had too much luck in the past with doing this for the same truck for some other parts, but maybe it depends upon which dealer one uses. Some are willing to work with you.
Any ideas or suggestions, fellas?