2000 Dodge Dakota car makes bad grinding noise.

Have the brakes been inspected? If not, that's the place to start. Other possible causes include a front wheel bearing if the noise gets louder as speed increases and it sounds like an airplane engine, and a front outer cv joint. You can run it in 4wd with the truck raised off the ground, then run it in 2wd. If the noise is still there in 2wd, suspect a rear axle bearing, differential bearing, or gear noise.

If you still can't find the source, find a mechanic who has a "Chassis Ear". That is a set of six microphones that are clipped onto suspect points, then listened to with a receiver during a test drive. Moving the microphones around will pinpoint the source.

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Can't guess at exact amounts, but anything requiring disassembly of the rear axle would probably be most expensive. It would also be the least likely cause of the noise.

The most common source of grinding would be the front brakes, especially if it only occurs during braking. If the front brake pads are worn so metal is grinding on metal, you will probably need one or two front rotors as well as the pads. Rotors have come down in price over the last ten years, but you are still looking at around $200.00 to $300.00 for a front brake job, maybe a little more.

If the grinding still occurs when you are not pressing the rake pedal, but it is brake-related, there could be a sticking front caliper. Here too, the cost of professionally rebuilt calipers has come down a real lot compared to the early 1990s. The rubber hoses should be replaced too if there is any sign of dry rotting or cracking of the outer casing. These parts can add perhaps another $150.00 to $200.00 to the bill.

The best thing to do is get an inspection and estimate. Sears used to offer free front end and brake inspections in the '80s. They might still do that. Labor rates vary a lot across the country too so it's hard to give a better guess on cost of repairs, especially when we aren't sure it's even a serious problem.

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