Dodge diesel mechanic recommendations in Seattle area

[tomx]

Hey can anyone recommend a good Dodge diesel mechanic in the Seattle area (Eastside preferred)? My 07 2500 needs new U-Joint and hubs, dealer is asking over $2k to get repaired. I'm trying to find a cheaper option. Thanks for any advice!

 

[White Rad]

I assume your talking about front axle u-joints? Who diagnosed the hubs going bad? Those hubs are a known problem and are a sealed unit so you can't just replace the bearings/races. But I would make sure they are actually going out. Should be some serious rust dust around back of hub seal, play in the hubs, or obvious bearing noise. I put a dynatrak Free spin hub kit on when I did mine....there are benefits to not spinning the entire front drive train when in two-wheele drive and the bearings/races are easily sourced and cheap to replace. You should also consider doing the ball joints while you are in there and have the axle shafts out because the inner axle shaft seals can only tolerate pulling the shafts out so many times before they are likely to start leaking and that is a major deal to press them in from front diff housing it all needs to some out. These things eat ball joints...

Really not a diesel mechanic thing I would look for a good drivetrain shop. But I'm a long way from SEA so don't have any specific recommendations..

 

[ski-doing]

I had an 05 2500 Dodge, and each hub/bearing assembly was $500 installed at Les Schwab. I had them do it, because it was about $450 for me to buy them outright. I also had to do a rear u joint on that truck too, but I did that myself and put in a grease able one. I think that cost me $20 and a fair amount of dead blow work to get the old one out. There really is no getting around the cost of the hub/bearing assemblies if you buy new.

 

[blk9038]

Hey can anyone recommend a good Dodge diesel mechanic in the Seattle area (Eastside preferred)? My 07 2500 needs new U-Joint and hubs, dealer is asking over $2k to get repaired. I'm trying to find a cheaper option. Thanks for any advice!

I would go with les schawb also had them replace one on my 03 3500 I did the other myself was about 350 bucks 3 yrs ago.

 

[Hotchief]

I had Randy's Ring & Pinion do mine.
Can't remember the cost but the work was great.

 

[rmkboxer]

we can do them at fastrax, but that's puyallup

 

[2014rmk800]

I work at the dodge dealer in enumclaw, Labor would only be around $400 threw my shop. Could do something under the table

 

[need to know]

unit bearings

I went with a free wheel hub kit when mine went bad, if you are going to use unit bearings again be aware the cheap one could go out in 30,000 miles. get good greasable components . If you are keeping the truck and drive on the salty metal eating roads like Snoq then I would convert to a locking hub kit

 

[PowderMiner]

I have had that done twice at Monroe Dodge and it was around 500 a side. There must be something else they are adding in there. I get the sealed ones and just figure every 40k it will need to be done... i'm not into maintenance though.

 

[laxdad]

Mechanics

Only two mechanics I take my Cars & Diesel Truck to.

Regular Mechanic - Dan @ TR Transmissions in Lake Stevens (425-387-2589). He has worked miracles on my Truck from hubs to transmission.

Diesel Mechanic - Brian Pyeatt @ Fleet Service in Everett (425-355-4440).

These are specifically the only two guys I let touch my vehicles after years of phenomenal service. I dont go anywhere else.

 

[tomx]

Thanks for all the great tips everyone!