E 350 with dead differential

Hooper is well known and respected here in the Valley. I know quite a few 4x4 guys that have rock crawled and beat the sn-ot out of their diffs that have had Hooper do the rebuilds, with quality work and parts. I think if you aren't too abusive, your rear end problems are gone for good.

1600 is about the going price for rear diff......includes new gears and all new bearings. One thing with used is you just never know is how bad the inside the diff could be.

Orcadrvr wrote:

smkettner wrote:
Does the original mechanic actually do rear ends himself?
Even dealers often send this work out to a good shop and double the invoice.

I think he probably would have sent it out, but I'm not sure.

I have used him for about 15 years, so I do trust him. It just worked out better this way.

Hmmmmm - apparently about $900. "better"!?

R&R of differentials simply may *not* be part of his expertise - but (IMO) would be checking for second estimates for any other expensive repairs..;)

~

smkettner wrote:
Does the original mechanic actually do rear ends himself?
Even dealers often send this work out to a good shop and double the invoice.

I think he probably would have sent it out, but I'm not sure.

I have used him for about 15 years, so I do trust him. It just worked out better this way.

Does the original mechanic actually do rear ends himself?
Even dealers often send this work out to a good shop and double the invoice.

Well, I couldn't find one with limited slip, didn't have the time or space to swap it out anyway, so I took it to Hooper's Rear Ends in Sun Valley, Ca.

He quoted me a price of between $500 (if only bearings and seals), to $700 if he needed to swap in a set of used gears. He ended up swapping in the gears, but I am pleased overall.

Very nice people. It's apparently been in business for a very long time. Their office is filled with hundreds of gears, axles, differentials, and related parts. It took them about a day and a half, and I am really pleased.

They were puzzled by the fact that the rear end wasn't howling, or groaning, or whining, even though the pinion was flopping around in the housing.

Thanks again for all the good suggestions and info.

Tittering in the middle of a differential crisis. Someone summon the Usher. :)

Tip: Make sure the threads on the spindles allow the nuts to spin down by hand.

My money is on a rebuild at least you know what you've got and the axle tubes are straight. Limited slip clutches do wear out and sticking the wrong lube in makes things worse. You never know why the junk differential ended up there. Maybe a little problem between the van and The Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Friend just bought one in LA Ford E-350. Eight hundred dollars. Used. 30 day warranty. Pick A Part, for an E-350 limited slip? Shirley you jest...

Please stop calling me Shirley...

(from the greatest movie ever made!)

Friend just bought one in LA Ford E-350. Eight hundred dollars. Used. 30 day warranty. Pick A Part, for an E-350 limited slip? Shirley you jest...

The pinion angle from level on the diff should equal the angle of the trans. If not it will vibrate and shorten ujoint life. If you can find one from another van you should be good.