Another rear diff problem

9second750 · 02-13-2005, 06:46 PM

Today I was towing a friends parasailing boat and guess what, rear end snaps(I think). First the boat and trailer weighs 8,750lbs and I have a 4x4 SE KC with big tow, so I am fine to tow it. Ive pulled the boat a couple of times before and it pulled it great. Well this time I had only made it about 50ft out of the driveway when it happened. It was a grinding sound and alot of pops, the truck still starts fine and runs, only makes this sound when put in gear. My questions is how long do you guys think my trucks gonna be out of service for? I am in the process of getting a new one from the lemon law, but that can take up to a year my lawyer says. If its gonna be in the shop for weeks I'm gonna be screw cause I know any rental they get me isn't gonna be able to pull 9,000lbs that I need it to.

Thanks, any info is apprecaited!!!!!

Also do you think I should tell them I was towing at the time it happened?

Vegas04 · 02-13-2005, 07:06 PM

were you using a weight distributing hitch at the time? I guess they could say that you weren't following the owners manual instructions for towing if you weren't. Also, do you have stock tire size on there? rims? If you were using all stock equipment then I would tell them exactly how it happened.

9second750 · 02-13-2005, 07:12 PM

My truck is 100% stock. I can't use a weight distrubiton hitch on the trailer since its a boat, or at least I don't have one that I could use.

Armada · 02-13-2005, 08:21 PM

Makes the noise when you put it in gear? Does it make the noise when coasting in neutral? If not, it might be the transmission.

And could you tell us what break-in procedure you used to prepare the diff before towing a load that heavy?

mkelee · 02-13-2005, 08:47 PM

Out of curiosity was your diff cover rusty looking???

9second750 · 02-14-2005, 06:30 AM

I could not get the truck to move so there was no way to hear it when coasting. I never towed anything till the truck had over 1200 miles on it so the break in should have been fine. I didn't change the diff fluid because I was worried if something did happen they would blame it on the different fluid. And no the cover was not rusty at all.

JefeCinco · 02-14-2005, 07:00 AM

Sounds a lot like you may have been a little over weight. You say the boat/trailer combo weighs 8750 pounds, right? As you know, I'm sure, any weight in the cab or bed counts against your tow rating. Off hand I don't know what the rating is for the 4X4 but know it's less than the 2X4 because of the added weight of the front akle and xfer case. Did you add to the 8750 pound weight the xtra weight of boat fuel, fishing gear, ice, anchor, electronics, etc. Is the 8750 advertised weight or certified scale weight? BTW, since you have the big tow package you have a weight distributing hitch.

Even if you are barely within the rated tow weight for your Titan you are very close to the edge. So close, IMO, that if you intend to always tow 9000 or more pounds you should consider a truck with a higher tow rating.

Meanwhile, if you intend to continue towing 9000+ pounds with a Titan I highly recommend a very conservative preventive maintenance program for your driveline, brakes, and tires. Change fluids at least twice as often as recommended, use synthetics, inflate your tires F&R to the highest rated pressure allowed by the manufacturer and inspect your brake system frequently.

Good luck.

Butch

JS02 · 02-14-2005, 07:16 AM

If the dealership has the differential or parts it should not take very long. It should be able to be done in a day or less.

I don't think the load was too much for the truck. I just think there are some differentials that are faulty. I have pulled more than that for 20 to 30 miles routinely and see no problem. I have pulled over 12000# over the same distances for over 25 years with 1/2 ton GMC pickups and have never had a transmission or differential failure. It is more likely that the differential was faulty from the start and it just took some time for it to show up. It seems that you have had a lot of bad luck with your Titan.

QWIKWHIP · 02-14-2005, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 9second750

I could not get the truck to move so there was no way to hear it when coasting. I never towed anything till the truck had over 1200 miles on it so the break in should have been fine. I didn't change the diff fluid because I was worried if something did happen they would blame it on the different fluid. And no the cover was not rusty at all.

1200 miles doesn't mean you followed the break in procedure though. If you read the owners manual it specifically says that the first 500 miles of towing, regardless of mileage on the truck, should be keept under 50mph. Also, the diff fuild should have been checked at the least. A lot of trucks have come thru with low fluid. But anyway, I would tell them the truth, and good luck.

Armada · 02-14-2005, 09:29 AM

Quikwhip is onto something. One of the car mags, I think it was Car and Driver or Four Wheeler did a long term follow up on their Titan. They blew the rear diff while towing because they forgot to follow the proper break-in for towing. They admitted the mistake was theirs.

Indeed, it's not the total number of miles on the truck. It's how you let the gear set heat up and cool down under load for the first 500 miles or so of towing.

Nissan has a described procedure in the manual. It should be followed. It is typical of that recommended by most truck manufacturers, the gear manufacturers and most independent shops that sell differential parts or install them.

In short: When towing a heavy load the first time , you need to drive a few miles to let the gears mesh under load (the pattern under load is different than when empty), and drive these miles at 50 mph or less, and then stop and let it cool down. Then repeat the process until the recommended number of miles under load has been met. This heat hardens the gears and provides a uniform pattern of contact.

Many also recommend draining and replacing the diff fluid at the time of competion of this process. Don't be surprised if it is dark and if there are a few metal flakes or shavings. That is normal. Fill with new gear lube with the manufacturer's specs. That fluid should stay clean and there should be no more metal showing up.

Here is an example of recommendations from a fairly well-known national independent supplier of gear sets:

http://www.differentials.com/install.html

Click on the link for break-in, or scroll down to the bottom of the page for the instructions which are very similar to Nissan's.

My fear is that this process may not have been followed in this case.

phillipyang · 02-14-2005, 10:03 AM

Sorry to hear about your problems... Towing a boat is a whole new dimension for me. I only tow small things like ATV's

CaptainBay 3000 · 02-14-2005, 12:56 PM

I changed out the oil in my rear diff this weekend and it was black and had metal in it. I have an '04 with 3000 miles and have never towed anything. I can't imagine what it would look like after towing somehting that heavy.

9second750 · 02-14-2005, 04:41 PM

I got it in to the dealer today and here is the deal. The rearend is on national back order and there is now in the USA right now. They said there is 120 in shipment and should be in the USA by the end of the week. But Im and not sure if Im getting on of the 120, they even had another titan come in today with the same problem(first 2 for my dealer I know I was real close to the 9400lbs towing rating but i only had about 300lbs in the bed and no gas or anything in the boat.

As for breaking it in right I guess i didnt do it right. But i did tow alot of little loads way before this one.

DALGATITAN · 02-14-2005, 05:33 PM

I Had My Rear End Replaced Last Week.i Took It In 2 Weeks Ago And Got It Back Last Week.they Had To Order One,but It Is The New 05 Rear End.
With The Alum.cover And Syn. Fluid! They Gave Me A Dodge With A Hemi For A Rental.(weak Compared To The Titan). If They Try To Give You A Cracker Jack Box For A Rental Tell Them You Need A Truck.i Told Them I Needed A Truck For Work .the Warranty Will Pay For The Rental! As Far As You Checking The Diff. Fluid I Don't Feel That You Should Have To Check The Diff. Fluid In A New Truck, If It Breaks And Is Low On Fluid(or Out) That's They're Tuff Luck.they're Qc Dept. Should Check The Fluid Before It Leaves The Plant!!!

smoothTitan · 02-14-2005, 06:14 PM

sorry to hear about your problem and hope you get a quick fix. as far as break in an all that stuff, i agree you should follow the book, but regardless that shouldnt have happened. i have pulled 12,000 pounds with my 00 z71 with no break in procedure and have never had a problem and they have weak rears. i cant see blaming it on break in procedures.