another rear axle seal failure...have a question

**slwilson6** · 07-13-2010, 09:23 PM

i just got back from a trip pulling around 6800 lbs travel trailer through the mountains in arkansas with my family. i noticed my rear axle leaking all over my brakes on the drivers rear. i started looking my truck over more carefully and noticed the pinion seal on the front differential leaking as well. fluid levels were still okay and i was away from sufficient tools to deal with it and only had 340 miles to go till i was back home. got home okay and took the t in to the shop that has done a lot of work for me in the past. the only difference is, he recently changed mechanics. he said that he recently had a titan in for the same reason and quoted me $435 parts and labor for the rear axle seal replacement. i thought that sounded reasonable so i left it with him. he called me the next day and said that there were additional parts needed and more labor because of the way the titan is built. he said the bearings had to be cut out and replaced at the same time as the seals as well as a sleeve to house them. sounds strange to me. i thought the most difficult part was if the bearings were pressed, they would have to be pulled out and re-pressed into place. never heard of them having to be cut out and the axle rebuilt. another day goes by so i call him. they were putting the grease in the diff so come on by and get it. i show up and look into the bay, my truck is on the lift and i can see the rear wheels off, brakes hanging by the brake lines and an obviously p___sed off mechanic slamming tools in his tool box. the explanation i got from the owner was the abs light was on. fluid had leaked on to a sensor on the rear brakes and caused the light to come on. sounds strange to me. it wasn't on when i dropped it off either. i know the brakes have to be removed first but he claimed that my brake lines are difficult.

could somebody shed some light on what is involved in replacing the rear axle seals and about how much it should cost me? a brief description of the assembly, diagram, photos, anything would benefit me...the shop that has it said their insurance does not allow me in their bays and i am having a difficult time understanding how these rear axles are assembled based on their discriptions. the shop has told me that my total bill will be around $850 to replace both rear axle seals, bearings, new synthetic fluid, and also to replace the front pinion seal on the front diff.

**slwilson6** · 07-14-2010, 06:03 AM

bump.......bump.

krc333 · 07-14-2010, 07:00 AM

I had my rear seals replaced by the dealer, for free thankfully, and I think the bill said it was a total of $750. So I'm guessing the $850 not a crazy price. How many miles do you have on your truck? I was a few thousand over the warranty and my dealer did it for me for free on a goodwill claim.

**slwilson6** · 07-14-2010, 08:31 AM

i am approaching 75k on mine. dealer said they would not do it.

bestatchess · 07-14-2010, 09:04 AM

You can buy a kit to do one rear axle shaft, so you need two of these to do both sides:

Nissan Parts Wholesale Nissan Body Parts Discount OEM Replacement Auto Parts

The kit is about $100 per side. Plus you need some synthetic gear oil and some shop rags. So say $250 for parts.

Here is basically how it is done:

D44 Axle Shaft Removal and Overhaul - 1

1. Brake calipers hanging from brake lines - obvious fail.

2. Sleeve to house them in ? - sounds like the race - no big deal - apparent fail.

3. Slamming tools in tool box - obvious fail.

4. ABS light - so wipe the tone ring and sensor off - no big deal - apparent fail.

5. calipers hanging by brake lines (so the brake lines are not disconnected), yet you have to remove the brake lines, which are difficult to remove - Obvious BS

The $850 price sounds fairly consistent with dealer pricing.

Check your parking brake. Sometimes leaking seals can oil your parking brake shoes, in which event they need to be replaced to work properly.

Moze · 07-14-2010, 09:31 AM

Just a thought...TransPro in Terrell (right near the 80/20 split) built my trans in my Chevy (11 sec. street truck) and were awesome to deal with. You might call them (ask for Jay, tell him Moze recommended him) and see if he can give you a good price on the trans work at least. Might not be worth it to take it to two place, or it might be. But he's dependable, stands 100% behind his work and I would recommend him without hesitation...and there aren't many mechanics I would do that with.

krc333 · 07-14-2010, 09:42 AM

You could always call Nissan USA and just see what they say. My local dealer in Boulder call them directly for me and got it approved. I bet the dealer you took it to just said no because they don't want to hassle with it.

**slwilson6** · 07-14-2010, 10:15 AM

now i am being told that the abs sensor has to be replaced for another $100. isn't that sensor where the brake line attaches to the caliper assembly? they are telling me that the exhaust burned up the sensor. light was not on when i took it to them. anyone care to comment?

**slwilson6** · 07-14-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moze

Just a thought...TransPro in Terrell (right near the 80/20 split) built my trans in my Chevy (11 sec. street truck) and were awesome to deal with. You might call them (ask for Jay, tell him Moze recommended him) and see if he can give you a good price on the trans work at least. Might not be worth it to take it to two place, or it might be. But he's dependable, stands 100% behind his work and I would recommend him without hesitation...and there aren't many mechanics I would do that with.

i will definately be taking it to him when i replace my rear end or change my gears. thanks.

bestatchess · 07-14-2010, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slwilson6

now i am being told that the abs sensor has to be replaced for another $100. isn't that sensor where the brake line attaches to the caliper assembly? they are telling me that the exhaust burned up the sensor. light was not on when i took it to them. anyone care to comment?

I think you already know the answer to this one.

krc333 · 07-14-2010, 10:52 AM

I'm just guessing but I bet next he's going to tell you the johnson rod is bad and needs to be replaced for another $100.

**slwilson6** · 07-14-2010, 11:09 AM

this s__t is getting old. tell me if this makes sense to anyone else. mech replaced seals and either did not reconnect the abs sensor or got it dirty when everthing is apart. took it for a test drive and noticed the light. mech gets p__sed. pulled everything back apart leaving the calipers hanging by the brake lines against the hot exhaust and burning through it. slams tools in tool box as i am looking at progress through the window yesterday at 5:15pm. owner calls me at 6:30pm after shop closes and informs me that the parts place was already closed and abs sensor is bad...blah blah blah. sound about right to anyone else?

**slwilson6** · 07-14-2010, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moze

Just a thought...TransPro in Terrell (right near the 80/20 split) built my trans in my Chevy (11 sec. street truck) and were awesome to deal with. You might call them (ask for Jay, tell him Moze recommended him) and see if he can give you a good price on the trans work at least. Might not be worth it to take it to two place, or it might be. But he's dependable, stands 100% behind his work and I would recommend him without hesitation...and there aren't many mechanics I would do that with.

Quote:

Originally Posted by krc333

I'm just guessing but I bet next he's going to tell you the johnson rod is bad and needs to be replaced for another $100.

lol...you are probably right.

i am questioning this new mechanics abilities. he is the same one that said that installing my RAS was a very difficult job. if i remember correctly he is the one that complained about putting my rear spacers in, too. this shop has done all my repair work for several years and i have never had an issue till now. may be time to find someone else.

bestatchess · 07-14-2010, 11:45 AM

Perhaps he was slamming tools because he thought he was going to have to shell out for the ABS sensor/cable that he destroyed.

**nascarjody** · 07-14-2010, 02:16 PM

Tell him to just put the truck back together. Get it the f... out of there. The ABS sensor is easy to replace. First get it out of that shop. The sensor bolts into the back of the brake backing plate & plugs in. It would take you all of 10 min to fix.