Have you checked the center carrier bearing in the middle of the driveshaft? Most commonly this is the cause of a rear growling noise. If it is a wheel bearing, do both, parts should be around $30 an end. If it is the pinion bearing, I would recommend getting a new used rear dif/axle assembly from the bone yard.

You may also want to change the rear end fluid and inspect the old fluid for shavings, if there are shavings there is no doubt that replacing the entire rear end assembly is the way to go.

I did a bearing swap on a 93 Cherokee with a Dana 40 rear end, job took me about four hours a side... slide hammer/gear puller required to get the bearing races out... I suspect yours has a similar setup except that the axles are held in place at the wheels rather than clips in the differential.

jorrell

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92 245 250K miles, IPD'd to the hilt, 06 XC70, 00 Eclipse custom Turbo setup...currently taking names and kicking reputations!