i have found the reason i have burnt up 4 diffs

*tlmaniac* · 05-20-2006, 03:14 PM

ok i took truck in today for an alignment and here are the before and after specs.
front : camber left= -.05 right=.08 specified range -.09 to 0.6
caster left=2.9* right= 2.3* specified range 2.5 to 4.0 they could not adjust to within spec
now for the interesting part the rear specs
rear left camber=.2* rear right camber= -.2* and for the real screwed up part
left rear toe=.23* rear right toe= -.03*
now being that a titan has a live axle the toe should be damn near 0 deffinately not a quarter of a degree positive on one side and slightly negative on the other side.what do you guys think? could this be the root of my problems or am i the idiot they try and tell me i am?

pi3yeargrad · 05-20-2006, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlmaniac

ok i took truck in today for an alignment and here are the before and after specs.
front : camber left= -.05 right=.08 specified range -.09 to 0.6
caster left=2.9* right= 2.3* specified range 2.5 to 4.0 they could not adjust to within spec
now for the interesting part the rear specs
rear left camber=.2* rear right camber= -.2* and for the real screwed up part
left rear toe=.23* rear right toe= -.03*
now being that a titan has a live axle the toe should be damn near 0 deffinately not a quarter of a degree positive on one side and slightly negative on the other side.what do you guys think? could this be the root of my problems or am i the idiot they try and tell me i am?

I thought we couldnt adjust the rear of our trucks??? At least thats what theyve told me...

*tlmaniac* · 05-20-2006, 04:54 PM

how?it is a solid axle mounted solidly to steel springs that are that have fixed mountimg pionts?how would they adjust that?cut the spring mounts from the frame and move them? i could see it if it had traction bars with rod ends but there isnt an adjustment point that i have seen.also there is no range of specification for this either.also the tech said teh rear is non adjustable they could try and shim it but that would be a ghetto fix in not so many words.

sonnytimes · 05-20-2006, 05:00 PM

There has to be a reason for some people having may failures and alot have none. My thrid is failing right now. I checked last night and it has the silver fluid (metal in the fluid).

*tlmaniac* · 05-20-2006, 06:08 PM

just for sh*ts and grins check and see how the wheels sit in the wheel wells.i noticed mine when a friend mentioned it would be possible to grind spider gears to death with an un square rear axle. i measured with a tape and found mine to be 3/16" farther back on the left side hence the toe out.im kinda worried about them being unable to adjust caster on right side.oh well i will let them have one more crack at it monday then i call the bbb lemon law arbitration people and start my claim back up

**HudsonValleyTitan** · 05-20-2006, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlmaniac

just for sh*ts and grins check and see how the wheels sit in the wheel wells.i noticed mine when a friend mentioned it would be possible to grind spider gears to death with an un square rear axle. i measured with a tape and found mine to be 3/16" farther back on the left side hence the toe out.im kinda worried about them being unable to adjust caster on right side.oh well i will let them have one more crack at it monday then i call the bbb lemon law arbitration people and start my claim back up

I posted in the other thread we spoke in as well but.....you think this could be the culprit all along for people with rear diff failures? It would make perfect sense seeing as Dana 44s have been abused for years in real off-road vehicles. I'm glad they found something other than just a bad rear diff.
Can they somehow fix this or is your truck basically prone to this because of no adjustments?

NorCal 4x4 · 05-20-2006, 11:37 PM

I always suspected there might be something specific to the Titans w/multi. rear failures. And I think I remember a thread way back, that mentioned an unsquare axle, although maybe not in relation to diff. failure.

When I saw the TSB, (to remind techs to replace the plug on the new replacement axles, with the old breather element), I thought that was probably the cause of the multi-failures, but this new theory definitely sounds plausable too.

Has anyone had a replacement rear axle/diff. go bad - when they know for a fact that the shipping plug was removed from the new axle, and that the breather element was installed, and was functional?

Since Nissan did a TSB to remind their dealer technicians, I was thinking this was it.

Link:
http://www.nissanhelp.com/Ownership/.../NTB06-027.htm
pic of a rear-end plug and of the breather element:

*tlmaniac* · 05-21-2006, 06:15 AM

i can confirm that the plug is not the reason.i am on diff number 5 and the plugs were changed on all of them.i dont know if the unsquare axle is the whole reason for multiple failures but it is something to look at.just think about it you have a few thousand truck frames that were welded in a bad jig and a few hundred thousand that were done right. guess if that is the case nissan figured all would be well since it would be a low number produced before qc found it? hell i dunno im just guessing but it would explain the multiples in some vehicles.

**loufish** · 05-21-2006, 06:36 AM

Are you sure the shop didn't quote you specs from a Armada with IRS?
You're on your 5th rear end?...Nissan has replaced 4 of your diffs already? Did they fail all the same way?

*tlmaniac* · 05-21-2006, 05:19 PM

yes all have failed the same way.i was watching the tech do the alignment.the specs are for an 05 titan since they dont have the 06 in the computer yet.

sonnytimes · 05-22-2006, 02:29 AM

I have had two differential fail and the third is howling right now. The plug was not the problem on them. I am currently waiting for a new truck. When this one is returned, they will take a look at what is going on. Untill then, I will hope and pray that I will not have to walk again.

myTtitan · 02-15-2007, 05:46 AM

Could axle wrap be possible contributor to failing rearends?

blkbelt65 · 02-15-2007, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlmaniac

i can confirm that the plug is not the reason.i am on diff number 5 and the plugs were changed on all of them.i dont know if the unsquare axle is the whole reason for multiple failures but it is something to look at.just think about it you have a few thousand truck frames that were welded in a bad jig and a few hundred thousand that were done right. guess if that is the case nissan figured all would be well since it would be a low number produced before qc found it? hell i dunno im just guessing but it would explain the multiples in some vehicles.

holy crap! diff number 5? and you "still" own a Titan. After that much bs I'd have went with another truck by now.

earl1z19 · 02-15-2007, 05:56 AM

Another reason for this might be having the truck cranked down too tight on the truck during shipping.
I once bought a new Ford that had a similar problem with the front axle. After the dealer installed new shims the trouble was fixed.
I worked at a dealer for a few years and the truckers really crank the cars down to be sure they do not move. I think it would be easy to possibly bend the axle dring shipping.

Boost_Junkiee · 02-15-2007, 06:44 AM

I would blamee it on the techs not setting up the rear end correctly and your correct about the rear specs of your alignment. It is possible that there is something bent or was manufactured off spec. I wold have someone measure the actual diff housing and see if its bent. Your alignment in the rear should not be that far off.