My rear diff story... thoughts?

Triple S · 04-27-2009, 06:25 AM

Well here is my story, the Titan is at the dealership now, it was dropped off on Saturday, the failure happened when I was about 150-miles away from home.

This story was typed up for my S2000 forum, so just look past some of that stuff. I typed up the whole story of that day and how the noise started, about the only other thing I can say is my services were all done on time, and up until that day I had never had any rear diff issues except for a very small leak.

So who wants to guess on the complete list of new parts they are going to have to pony up with? My 2005 only has 49,000 miles so I'm thinking this has to be covered under the drive train warranty, well, I sure as hell hope it will be...

Quote:

My story of dropping off the JDM S2000 wheels for powder coating...

Left the house early Saturday morning on our first day this year where it was going to get up into the 80's, Titan sounded just fine and I was headed out to get breakfast with Skip so I could give him my old S2000 OEM exhaust. Before I got onto the expressway for a 45-minute run I opened the rear window so I could enjoy the warmth and fresh air, when spring hit up here it is important stuff. After the 45-minute run at 73mph on the expressway I went onto regular state roads and had about another 45-minute drive, in total about 90-miles. Just before the end of the drive I started to notice a very slight noise when I would lift off the gas, I was thinking maybe a front bearing was going, too faint to really know yet, will think about it after breakfast.

After breakfast I ran a few errands, not many miles and the noise was still the same, too faint to tell where it was coming from, but I recall thinking the Titan seemed to clunk when I shifted out of P and into D or R, interesting.

The next part of my day was a 30-mile trip from Ithaca over to Marathon, lots of twisty roads and elevation changes. I was driving my normal way, which for some might be considered hard driving, but I was having fun. The longer I drove however, the more the noise started to get louder, the hills had me on and off the gas a lot, and when I would be off the gas coasting down a hill the noise was really getting loud, and now I could tell it was coming from the rear, oh, this ain't going to be good.

After I dropped off the wheels and met the new powder coater, wow this guy is fantastic to work with, I can't wait to see how the wheels turn out, I was about to get into the titan when I noticed spots all over the rear tire, and that smell, yuk, that's unhappy oil. I looked down and sure enough, the rear diff was leaking, and oil had splattered all over the place, great, now what do I do?

I figured I would make an attempt to get back to Ithaca where I could call AAA to come and get it, that way I could still hang out with Skip for a while and have a beer, because I was really wanting one right about now. I was only about 3-miles from the powder coaters when I crept up and over a hill, my turn was down at the bottom of the hill, I'm doing about45-mph, I'm off the gas, the noise from the rear diff is not good, I'm going to have to pull over and call AAA now, I downshifted to fourth and K A B O O M !. Holy chit, that ain't good... I slow down with the brakes, make the corner, go to get back on the gas, and I hear thumping under the truck, but the truck is not accelerating. I coast to a stop, get out, and behold, the driveshaft had ripped right out of the rear diff and the rear of it was just sitting on the ground in the ever increasing pool of oil.

I called AAA thinking boy am I glad I have +RV because my tow home will be free, all 150-some miles. When the flatbed arrived, and started to pull the Titan up onto the bed, both myself and the hauler looked at the skidding, locked up rear wheels and said, oh, that ain't good. I'm not sure why the wheels were locked because the ABLS makes our diff basically an open diff, so the wheels should have been rolling. After about 3-feet of dragging the wheels broke loose and started to roll, making the haul up onto the flatbed way easier.

The hauler was a great guy, we chatted all the way back home. I had the Titan dropped at Dorschel my local Nissan dealer. AND, what is a very interesting part of the story, the Titan was in there just 5-weeks ago for a check engine light issue, and at the time I said check the rear, it looks like I have a tiny leak. When I got the truck back from that service call they had replaced the breather valve and the rear pinion seal. So, my blown rear diff could be a result of a bad mechanic or bad parts, or, the failure just happened and had nothing to do with the work that was just done 5-weeks ago.

I can't wait to hear what they find...

gksmith · 04-27-2009, 07:35 AM

Dorschel huh? The one near Marketplace Mall? That puts in you my neck of NY. I'm over on the east side of the county near the lake. Anyway, keep us posted about the Titan - it sounds like it's still under warranty. Oh, and keep an eye out for a Green LWB Titan in the area. I work down the road from the mall.

Triple S · 04-27-2009, 07:58 AM

Hey gk, yup, we are indeed close.
Out of curiosity, are you crew or king cab?
I bought the Titan new at Hoselton, but had issues with their service.
Since going to Dorschel I have to admit, I have been much happier.

mjw357 · 04-27-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quad T

So who wants to guess on the complete list of new parts they are going to have to pony up with?

Well the list is pretty simple, needs a new rear axle assy (they don't sell parts). The whole thing will get replaced. You may get a new drive shaft as well.

Wheels couldn't turn because you probably had big chunks of metal stuck in the ring/pinion teeth.

Triple S · 04-27-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjw357

Well the list is pretty simple, needs a new rear axle assy (they don't sell parts). The whole thing will get replaced. You may get a new drive shaft as well.

Thanks!

The drive shaft was cut into, not as in opened it up, but it did have some aluminum scrapings removed from it.

Triple S · 04-27-2009, 08:59 AM

At 50k miles I only have 10k left of drivetrain warranty, and to date I have to say I have already been experiencing leaks from day one, and have had several things fail, I'm sorry to say, I'm really wondering if I should not cut my losses and look at trading it in for a Frontier of a Tacoma. I think my days of towing the car are just about over so I can go back to a smaller truck.

I have yet to join other forums, I'm wondering how the Frontier and Tacoma have been holding up???

Triple S · 04-27-2009, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjw357

Wheels couldn't turn because you probably had big chunks of metal stuck in the ring/pinion teeth.

Well that was what I was thinking all along, but was afraid to admit it...

Learjet · 04-27-2009, 09:43 AM

the drive shaft must be replaced !! Have them check the aft transmission mount also and make sure it didn't break.

WindsorFox · 04-27-2009, 12:01 PM

Man that really sucks. This seems to be a thing with the 4x4 trucks. The same thing happened recently to someone I know. "Ka-BANG" and a rattling from there on out.

Triple S · 04-27-2009, 12:03 PM

I'm really debating here, Tacoma or Frontier...

King Titan 06 · 04-27-2009, 12:44 PM

does anyone know at what mileage the drivetrain warrenty is over?

gksmith · 04-27-2009, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quad T

Hey gk, yup, we are indeed close.
Out of curiosity, are you crew or king cab?
I bought the Titan new at Hoselton, but had issues with their service.
Since going to Dorschel I have to admit, I have been much happier.

Crew Cab. I haven't done anything at Dorschel. I almost went with Ideal but they're too new and the sales manager kept changing the deal. Vision was a close second because they're about 2 miles from me but they too kept changing the deal.

I stuck with Hoselton. I used them for years with my Toyota. I figure I'll stick with them until they tick me off then maybe move on. I work with the service manager's cousin. It doesn't help me much except I seem to get quicker service now than before I made the connection. My neighbor was the sales person who sold me the truck. I guess I don't feel like I'm dealing with strangers.

mjw357 · 04-27-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King Titan 06

does anyone know at what mileage the drivetrain warrenty is over?

60k miles. Which, I regret to say, I am about 800 miles past.

Triple S · 04-27-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gksmith

Crew Cab.

Oh well, I have a used LazerLite tonneau for a King I'm looking to sell for nearly nothing...

I have contacted LeBrun Toyota in Canandaigua and LeBrun Nissan in Waterloo today. I know the LeBrun brothers and want to see if they can help me out with a new truck purchase.

Triple S · 04-27-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjw357

60k miles. Which, I regret to say, I am about 800 miles past.

Well good luck!

I'll admit, this last situation has really gotten to me, I had looked past all the other problems, and there have been plenty, but leaving me stranded on tyhe side of the road is not why I pay to drive newer vehicles...