Will the Axle Keep Popping Out of Front Diff?

[watermullen]

Ok, so I've been a victim of the infamous front stub shaft on the axle popping out of the front differential. I have it all tore apart and I'm waiting for the C-clip which no dealer within 1000 miles of me has in stock. It's Friday so the dealer won't get it until Monday now and they're going to send it to me when they get it so I'll be at least 5 days with no truck. I know it's only a cheap part and hopefully there is no internal damage, but I really don't want to have to keep dealing with this. I have read all the threads I can find about this topic and I see that it has re-occurred for a lot of people. Others have said just replace the clip and if the seal is ok, you're good to go. I don't want to have to baby the truck to make sure the suspension doesn't fall far enough to let the axle pop out again so I'm wondering if anyone can tell me whether this is something I'm going to expect to happen over and over until I replace the front diff, as recommended by Nissan. I am approximately 2000 miles over the warranty period and they will not cover it for me so if I replace it, it's all out of pocket expense.

I guess the main question is will the shaft keep popping out? and is it worth it to replace the front diff? I don't have a quote on the price yet but I'm sure it's rediculous.

[bestatchess]

If it is the same original differential and they replace the C-clip with the same one, it will likely happen again under the same driving conditions.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Albert Einstein.

[bestatchess]

I don't know if you have to replace the axle assemblies also, but the diff is not all that bad. (assuming that item 1 includes everything in the box)

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

A couple axle assemblies on top of that would pretty much suck.

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...14&catalogid=1

[watermullen]

Well I was hoping that maybe the clips were just getting weak after a couple years and that it would last that long again. I also got a private message from someone who didn't even replace the clip, they just put the axle back in and it has been fine since so I think for the difference in price, I'm going to try that first. I'm almost positive that the clip popped out when the wheel dropped into a bump and I heard the first clunk and then the axle completely popped out when I was turning. I love the look of the PRG levelling kit but I'm pretty sure that's what caused the clip to pop in the first place (combined with cold weather causing the CV joints not to have as much give maybe?). Anyway, I'll let everyone know if it happens again.

Thanks for looking up the price on the diff. I'm working in Canadian dollars but the dealer did get back to me with $1399 for the diff and only a couple hours to put it in so they are not too far off from what the aftermarket website quoted. For now, however, I will put on a new clip, put it back in, drive like I always do and see what happens. I actually ordered three clips so once I've used all of them up, then you can quote Albert Enstein again. Although I still will only be out about 10 bucks . . . unless something else gets damaged in the process. Wish me luck!

[watermullen]

Ok, just as an update, I waited four days and finally got the elusive C-clip from the dealer. I got ready to put everything back together and realized that it was the WRONG CLIP! Needless to say after waiting that long, I just decided to put the existing clip back in. I have talked to a couple guys that said they did the same thing and it held fine. So I'm up and running again and I'll let everyone know if it happens again.

[red_rider_elsinore]

The c-clip popping off is horrible. That combined with the rear diff failures is crazy. I love my titan, but now I am horrified that I'll get stranded in the middle of nowhere. Good luck with ur diff. I hope Nissan has a TSB on the c-clips.