Front differential blows - Page 3

barbershopper · 01-21-2007, 12:02 AM

Hi everyone
I just had my front diff replaced, I have about 60,000km (36,000Miles) I did not get any hastle from my dealer but I bought Nissan because I expect trouble free service I can't say that I am not disappointed, I have had issues with frozen door locks and real bad AM radio reception. All fixed but?
I am not hard on a vehicle and maintain it religiously. This is a great forum as it is not just *****ing but offers support advise and often solutions.
Thanks

Yahooligan · 01-21-2007, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spyderwebb

Let us know what the dealership tells you. I wonder if the transfer case simply didn't properly engage the front differential, or if there is a problem with the gears in the front differential.

With our trucks, going into 4wd involves the transfer-case engaging the front output shaft, there is nothing being engaged/activated in the front differential as it is always engaged to the hubs and spins whenever you're driving, whether in 2wd or 4wd.

I hope I never have an issue with my front diff, but I'm not too worried. I have 4.5 years and 57,000 miles left on my 5/60 warranty.

got_titan · 01-24-2007, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LarriKey

i'll agree man. [snip by bestatchess]

what the he!! are you smoking????

bestatchess · 01-24-2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by got_titan

what the he!! are you smoking????

another loser banned.

OC_Titan · 01-24-2007, 08:25 PM

I took my '04 LE CC in for an oil change today at a local Nissan dealership and was informed that my front axle had slid out of the diff housing and that the front diff would need to be replaced. I bought this truck used about six months ago and it now has 28,000 miles on it. The dealership happened to have a front diff on hand and replaced it in about and hour and a half. It was completely covered under warranty without any hassle.

I had never used 4wd until about a week ago when we had some snow and I wanted to try my new Terra Grapplers out so I put it in 4wd hi for about 2 miles. I don't know if this caused the failure or if it had been damaged for much longer. I had no idea that there was anything wrong.

spyderwebb · 01-27-2007, 10:17 AM

Well, I finally got my baby back, after 10 days in the shop, she's back in my garage. I sure missed that Titan power. After being stuck in a sucky Dodge Durango for the last two weeks, I realized how much I like my truck.

It would have been done Monday, but when they called me to pick it up, I noticed the oil light was on and rolled back in to the shop to discover there was a hole in the oil pan they didn't see, and oil was flowing out, how the heck did they miss that!!!, Anyway, they had to order a new oil pan (actually it is a cast iron piece, not a pressed steel pan like I would have thought), pretty big unit.

Apparently when the differential blew it popped a hole in the oil pan. On the bright side, I got a free oil change out of the deal. The tech didn't say much as to why they thought the differential blew, just a fluke deal I guess. Nonetheless, great to back in the King and all that power at my foot. Sure missed that Banks rumble. Sad part is the snow has all melted and I don't need the 4wd now, had to deal with the 6 inches of snow we has in a 2wd dodge, bummer, talk about slip sliding away. So any way, "Lets get ready to rumble", I ready to test the 4wd out with our next snow storm or a run through a muddy field.

Rock on Titan Brothers!!!!

FreezyTitan · 01-27-2007, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OC_Titan

I took my '04 LE CC in for an oil change today at a local Nissan dealership and was informed that my front axle had slid out of the diff housing and that the front diff would need to be replaced. I bought this truck used about six months ago and it now has 28,000 miles on it. The dealership happened to have a front diff on hand and replaced it in about and hour and a half. It was completely covered under warranty without any hassle.

I had never used 4wd until about a week ago when we had some snow and I wanted to try my new Terra Grapplers out so I put it in 4wd hi for about 2 miles. I don't know if this caused the failure or if it had been damaged for much longer. I had no idea that there was anything wrong.

The same thing happen to me, I was driving around and didn't notice it. Here in Alaska, I am switching in and out of 4HI a lot with all the snow. I finally notice some fluid soaked into the snow under the truck and took it in for an oil leak and was told my front axle popped out, etc, etc. It took them about 2 hours on mine. BTW, I have an 04 SE KC, w/off-road pkg and 19700 on it...I hope they replace the diff with the axle.

OC_Titan · 01-29-2007, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreezyTitan

The same thing happen to me, I was driving around and didn't notice it. Here in Alaska, I am switching in and out of 4HI a lot with all the snow. I finally notice some fluid soaked into the snow under the truck and took it in for an oil leak and was told my front axle popped out, etc, etc. It took them about 2 hours on mine. BTW, I have an 04 SE KC, w/off-road pkg and 19700 on it...I hope they replace the diff with the axle.

Do you know exactly what they did to repair yours? On my work order it says: REPLACE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL DUE TO AXLE HAS SLID OUT OF HOUSING
CAUSE: FAILED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL.
LD01AA R&I FINAL DRIVE ***'Y
LD021A COMBINATION: RPL FINAL DRIVE ***'Y
1 38500-8S11B DRIVE FINAL
FC: ZR42
PART#: 385008S11B

Does anyone know what exactly they did from the description of the work order? The tech made it sound like they were replacing the entire front diff and I saw a bill for $1182.00 that I assume were sending to Nissan. Would it be possible to replace the entire front diff in 1.5 hours? Thanks.

Wallrat · 01-29-2007, 08:43 PM

Absolutely, I pulled/reinstalled mine in a dirt parking lot in Baja in about 2 hours, and that was with just normal hand tools and a little 2ton jack.

OC, what dealership are you going to? Nissan of Garden Grove of course says that I'm the only truck they've seen with the problem. Before that I went to Douglas Nissan in HB and it was the same story.

OC_Titan · 01-30-2007, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wallrat

Absolutely, I pulled/reinstalled mine in a dirt parking lot in Baja in about 2 hours, and that was with just normal hand tools and a little 2ton jack.

OC, what dealership are you going to? Nissan of Garden Grove of course says that I'm the only truck they've seen with the problem. Before that I went to Douglas Nissan in HB and it was the same story.

Just sent you a PM.

Wallrat · 01-30-2007, 11:50 AM

Thanks OC...too bad you're in Oregon and not Orange County.

Well I called up Scott from Premier Nissan up there in Oregon Country and he confirmed that he's seen several Titans come through with this problem. Seemed to him that in cold weather the CV's become stiff so when you crank the wheel quickly it doesn't stretch and pulls the shaft out of the diff. He even had a customer take him for a drive who was able to do it on command. He also said that when he called the tech line they told him that a new diff was available and that he should install that under warranty. He's had no repeat problems with the new diffs he's installed.

Back to my dealership...
They claim they called the tech line and there is no new front diff because there is no known problem with the front differential.

red_rider_elsinore · 01-30-2007, 04:02 PM

Is this a problem with older titans? I use my 4x4 heavily, and I don't want to be caught in the middle of nowhere stranded.

OC_Titan · 01-30-2007, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wallrat

Thanks OC...too bad you're in Oregon and not Orange County.

Well I called up Scott from Premier Nissan up there in Oregon Country and he confirmed that he's seen several Titans come through with this problem. Seemed to him that in cold weather the CV's become stiff so when you crank the wheel quickly it doesn't stretch and pulls the shaft out of the diff. He even had a customer take him for a drive who was able to do it on command. He also said that when he called the tech line they told him that a new diff was available and that he should install that under warranty. He's had no repeat problems with the new diffs he's installed.

Back to my dealership...
They claim they called the tech line and there is no new front diff because there is no known problem with the front differential.

Sounds like it's time for a road trip up North

Seriously, there has to be a dealer down there that will replace it under warranty. Good luck.

Wallrat · 01-31-2007, 12:59 AM

OC, you just nailed my backup plan. In the next day or two I'm gonna be chasing down the local Nissan Rep in order to convince him. If that doesn't work, its Oregon or bust!

Red - Mine's an 05. I think its pretty much any titan that this could happen to. Although its much more common in colder climates. Maybe if its cold out you just don't turn very sharp or very quickly?