Bad differentiaL?

nopropslaw · 09-30-2004, 02:55 PM

how would I know if my rear differential has gone bad? The paint on it is rusting and chipping away...I had the dealership check the fluid a while back when everyone was posting that they had low fluid...The dealership said that it was fine...I just want to make sure nothing is wrong...

Finnattic · 09-30-2004, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nopropslaw

how would I know if my rear differential has gone bad? The paint on it is rusting and chipping away...I had the dealership check the fluid a while back when everyone was posting that they had low fluid...The dealership said that it was fine...I just want to make sure nothing is wrong...

Same thing happened to me, noticed the diff was rusted in places and yes some of the post attributed the low fluid issue to low fluid levels making the diff hot enough to bake the paint right off and causing rust.

I noticed this only 3 days after I took delivery of the truck and called and complained that a brand new truck shouldn't have a rusted diff so they replaced the diff cover with a new one.

IMADOGMAN · 09-30-2004, 03:06 PM

It depends on your definition of "bad". It could make noises (whining, grinding,etc) It could \stop turning (which would most often be preceded by those noises). It could smell bad (burnt gear oil has it's own smell)
If you want to make sure that nothing is wrong, you will have to have someone (or yourself) take the differential cover off, and look at the gears. They could be spalled, or have too much backlash, or be blue (or a variety of other colors) from the heat, if it has been overheating.
The paint chipping away means little, unless it looks like it has been fried. Might just be lousy paint, or they may not have cleaned the differential before it was painted, and it had a film of oil on it.
You could ask the dealer to pull the cover, but you should expect to pay for it, and for the new lube.
Does that help?

nopropslaw · 09-30-2004, 04:24 PM

yes, that does help...Last time I went for an oil change, I asked that they also change my diff fluid, it had about 9000 miles on it. They said I don't need it till at least 30000 miles on it, even though I was going to be the one paying for it...I have smelled nothing nor heard nothing yet, but the rusted and chipped paint just has me worried...when I complained about it they said they could do nothing about it, that that was just the way it was...Is this right? Don't they have to do something to fix it, paint it at least???

IMADOGMAN · 09-30-2004, 06:04 PM

For the price of a wire brush and a can of paint...I would keep the customer happy, but I am not your dealer. Also , consider that you can do it yourself if it bothers you. If you look at the rear differential on any of these trucks in a few years, they will almost all be rusty. You could probably do a better job than the dealer would if you clean and paint it yourself.
Also, instead of "asking" for them to change your diff fluid, "tell" them that you want it changed, or take it someplace else and have it done. Chances are it will be cheaper elsewhere, than at the dealer anyway. Just expect to pay for it either way.

If you can take out two plugs and put them back in, you can do it yourself. There are lots of posts showing how this is done if you are interested.

I will make you one guarantee...."No one will look out for you as well as you do."

I changed my oil and filter at 1100 miles, and then I took my truck in for its first recommended oil change at 4000 miles,(no charge for the first one from the dealer)....and the rest of them will be done by me.

I wish that all of the techs were conscientous, and would work on my vehicle as if it were there own. If they put their best man on it, and he is a slob, then I would rather do it myself.

Good luck!