TrueTrac install uncovered existing problem...

GotMyTruck! · 06-29-2006, 04:20 PM

OK, so I took my truck in to get the Truetrac installed today. I took it to a local off-road shop which only charged me $170 to install it.

Anyway he called me and told me that they noticed that the right rear axle seal is leaking.

And said that it is a b*tch to replace. Now I am going to have to take it back to the dealer. He couldn't get a hold of me soon enough, so they went ahead and put the TrueTrac in. I am hoping that the dealer will replace the seal without giving me a hassle. I just had my rear axle replaced about 10,000 miles ago for a similar problem. I hope they just don't want to replace the whole axle again. That would be a pain in the *** to get my truetrac out, take it to the dealer, have the axle replaced, then take it back to the off-road shop to put the TrueTrac back in. Also I don't know if they gave me back the original limited slip back...I'll have to check the back seat. If I don't have that, then it would really suck.

Do you guys think that the dealer will give me any grief for having the TrueTrac installed, and not want to cover the axle seal???

bestatchess · 06-29-2006, 04:37 PM

I think the axle seals are about $22 each. I bought a couple of them to install with the TruTrac. Obviously the labor would be the major component of the cost, but I think the dealer needs to cover it under warranty pursuant to the Magnusson Moss Warranty Act unless he can demonstrate the leak was caused by the TruTrac install. Your main difficulty in this regard might be the emphatic statement in the service manual that the axle seals must be replaced any time the axle shafts are removed.

If the dealer declines to cover this item, and insists on an unreasonable price, you could always buy a couple of seals and take them to the guy that installed the TruTrac.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...04&catalogid=1

bestatchess · 06-29-2006, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestatchess

I think the axle seals are about $22 each. I bought a couple of them to install with the TruTrac. Obviously the labor would be the major component of the cost, but I think the dealer needs to cover it under warranty pursuant to the Magnusson Moss Warranty Act unless he can demonstrate the leak was caused by the TruTrac install. Your main difficulty in this regard might be the emphatic statement in the service manual that the axle seals must be replaced any time the axle shafts are removed.

If the dealer declines to cover this item, and insists on an unreasonable price, you could always buy a couple of seals and take them to the guy that installed the TruTrac.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...04&catalogid=1

Also, if we are talking about the axle seal shown at the above link, I think installation is fairly simple.

CraigG · 07-02-2006, 07:22 AM

I just had my axle seal replaced and the tech that did the work had to eat 2 1/2 hours because they didnt have the right tool he had to shatter the bearing off the shaft. Said it would have been a piece of cake with the proper tool thoough. So so even in a worst case senerio find a dealer that has replace a few be honest with them and see how they handle it. My dealership charged nissan about 400. and change for the whole job not something you want to pay for the seals are a prob in these trucks.

bestatchess · 07-02-2006, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigG

I just had my axle seal replaced and the tech that did the work had to eat 2 1/2 hours because they didnt have the right tool he had to shatter the bearing off the shaft.

Sounds like a good place to avoid.

I just looked at the service manual, page RAX 7. The recommended procedure for removing the axle bearing is to drill a hole in the bearing ring retainer and strike with a chisel. Then the axle bearing is removed with a bearing splitter. Tool 205-D002. This is probably the tool that your tech did not have. I don't understand why all of that would be necessary just to replace the seal. Just pull the seal with a seal puller tool ($10) and install the new seal w/o messing with the bearing, since the seal is on the end of the axle shaft, outside the bearing. Is is really necessary to change the bearings to change the seals?

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...=8&catalogid=1

skyhammer · 07-02-2006, 10:25 AM

quote"Also I don't know if they gave me back the original limited slip back...I'll have to check the back seat."

Are you referring to the ABLS? If so, ABLS has nothing to do with the diff. The original Limited slip(ABLS) is controlled by the brakes. According to Austin, the ABLS works in conjunction with the truetrac.

*5.6* · 07-03-2006, 09:02 PM

he means the differential assembly.

take it to the dealer and dont mention the new diff install. they arent going to notice or care hopefully.

you would be nuts to swap diffs to avoid labor caharge for the seal replacement.

GotMyTruck! · 07-20-2006, 10:59 AM

I finally got around to taking my truck to the dealer yesterday. I didn't say anything about the TrueTrac, just hoping they would replace the seals.

He just called me and said that they found metal shavings in the fluid, so they were going to replace the whole axle again. I than told him that I had the TrueTrac in there and to see if they would swap it out. He mentioned that modifying the axle probably voided the warranty. I told him I didn't think that was correct and asked him to verify that.

What do I do now???????

bestatchess · 07-20-2006, 11:11 AM

Ask him if he ever wants to sell another vehicle to you or anyone that you ever know or ever talk to about your experience with that dealership. You could also mention the Magnusson Moss Warranty Act.

CHEIF · 07-20-2006, 11:12 AM

PLay it cool and don't let this guy rile you up. They like to talk trash sometimes and then act like they are doing you a favor.

Ask him if he's ever heard of the Magnusson Moss Warranty Act, then let him know it states that it must be proven that the tru-trac caused the seal to leak for work to be denied.

Like someone else mentioned already, it may also be an easy avenue to just have a shop replace the seal. I've done seals before and it's not that tough, at least not on my Dakota.

GoodLuck and stay cool. You didn't do anything wrong, as a matter of fact all you did was replace their crappy factory unit

mopar · 07-20-2006, 11:29 AM

Explain that obviously you won't be taking it to them to replace the differential unit(the compenent known to fail in the rearend) as it it now an after market unit covered under its own warranty and you are saving them money in the long run.
(even though it will probably easier for them to jusy sway the whole assemble and paid for by Nissan) and your are just asking them to replace the $22 seals. Then mention the Magnusson Moss Warranty Act.

**chunko** · 07-20-2006, 11:31 AM

This is why I won't replace the rear-end spiders with a tru-track until my truck is off warranty...

Until then..Nissan can throw money down the drain replacing 'em or engineer a real fix. The day it's off warranty...I'll have it in the shop.

GotMyTruck! · 07-20-2006, 11:48 AM

He called me back and said that he called Nissan and they will not honor the warranty. I asked him how much he is going to charge me to replace the axle seals (both are leaking now) and he is reluncantly going to get me a price. He claims that there are metal shavings in the oil, which shows something is breaking down, and the whole axle needs to be replaced. I told him I already replaced the part that was breaking down, so all I need done is the axle seals.

He is going to call me back with a quote.

got_titan · 07-20-2006, 11:57 AM

thats bs..........

baseballfanz · 07-20-2006, 01:12 PM

Just take somewhere else and have them do the seal. I wouldn't give them my business anymore. Goodluck.