Dealer Wants $2,300 - Your Opinion?

Jfutch · February 15, 2010

2004 Yukon Denali with 115K miles. Front end "growling" noise - kind of like studded tires on pavement.

GM Dealer diagnosis - Bearing Failure in Front Differential. Estimated repair cost is $2,300.

Are there other issues that could be causing this noise? I would appreciate any advice from the experts out there.

Great site! Thanks.

66nova · February 15, 2010

I say check with a mechanic that is not at the dealer. Unless it is warranty work, I would not use the dealer for anything.

Jfutch · February 15, 2010

Oh yeah, not sure if it's elated to the "growling" noise, but the GM dealer also recommended replacing the Idler Arm and Pitman Arm after the same inspection.

Again, thanks in advance for any advice!

Matt_ · February 15, 2010

$2300 sounds like they're putting a new differential in instead of putting new bearings in your current one.

Find a trans shop around your area and see how much a rebuilt would be... you'll probably get all new bearings and seals for less than a grand.

Idler and pitman arms are not related to the growling noise.

Without hearing the noise for ourselves and poking around, its virtually impossible for us to diagnose it. It could be wheel bearings, axle bearings, carrier bearings, pinion bearings or even something within the T-case. I'd bring it somewhere other than the dealer IMO.

desrtrat · February 15, 2010

03-04 GM with the AWD are known to have bad carrier bearings from the factory..at 115k you are lucky

it lasted as long as it did. my 03 SS front carrier bearings were bad at 190 mi. i picked it up new. had it repaired, still bad, they replaced the hole unit with one right off the assembly line, and it was bad also.

a sub contractor screwed up a HOLE bunch of carrier that got put in before it was caught. est. 25,000

but i'm still fighting GM over the low speed growl when turning. also GM stopped making the case in 05, so any repairs will have to be done on the case you have, or out of a junk yard. there is a few CO. that will ship you a new front diff. but it is someones else core..

good luck

Jennabear · February 15, 2010

You could get a new differential and new gears for under $2300.

GasHog369 · February 16, 2010

might sound dumb but, sure its not engaged in 4wd?

Jfutch · February 16, 2010

Y'all are awesome. Thanks for the fast responses.

The Denali is AWD all the time. Could this feature possibly account for the high repair estimate?

And no, I don't plan to have the dealer do the repair. They were a convenient stop and at least I now know worst case cost, huh?!

Enjoy the site. Lots of good folks here.

Wingnut · February 16, 2010

Man, you can go to the local 4WheelParts and get new stuff for probably a quarter of that.

Zembonez · February 16, 2010

Another vote for going somewhere else.... FAST!

Stevens03 · February 16, 2010

Way to much... I know my last truck wasn't a denali but I was getting the humming while in 4x4 in my 03, and I got repair prices under $500

Jfutch · February 22, 2010

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts/advice. I appreciate it!

kjctaco · February 16, 2010

My 01 silverado z71 had a similar issue but the noise was coming from the rear end. Dealer quoted $615 to replace the rear differential carrier bearings. I did it myself for $125 which included new bearings, fluid and labor by carquest. I removed the carrier assembly, took it to carquest and they pressed off old bearings and put new bearings on. No gear and pinion re-set up was required, just bolted carrier back in and new fluid. Noise is gone.