Front Axle Failer Thread - Page 5

509jumbo · 01-17-2009, 12:01 AM

had my front diff replaced week after christmas covered under warranty 05 SE crewcab offroad big tow and 3 inch Rough Country leveling kit 43,000 miles

n o o d l z · 01-17-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJ Kretschmar

Here is a whole thread it. Broke Front Diff...Weak Link - Nissan Titan Forum: Club Titan Forums

Thanks! Next question: where do I find some replacement C-clips?

vw1972bug · 01-19-2009, 07:48 AM

I have not posted here in such a long time. I think I just lost my front diff and I'm at 60,100 miles. Crap, the dealers around here are no help.

I contacted Middletown Nissan in Connecticut and they are a bunch of crooks. They told me that since I do all my own service (oil changes, air filters, tire rotations etc) that I should look elseware for service such as a "mom and pop" business. What a-holes.

Anyways...what does a new front diff cost and is it labor intensive?

LouieIV · 01-23-2009, 02:33 PM

So here's a little update. The Service manager at the dealership did alittle digging and told me that the part number for the front diff has changed ( I'm not sure when) and as far as he knows they haven't seen any of the new ones back yet. He said that the ring would hit the case and push the axle out and that apparently they've done some modifications to the design so this doesn't happen. Time will tell if this make the problem any better.

-LouieIV

PRJ · 01-23-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouieIV

So here's a little update. The Service manager at the dealership did alittle digging and told me that the part number for the front diff has changed ( I'm not sure when) and as far as he knows they haven't seen any of the new ones back yet. He said that the ring would hit the case and push the axle out and that apparently they've done some modifications to the design so this doesn't happen. Time will tell if this make the problem any better.

-LouieIV

Old part number is 38500-8S102
New part number is 38500-8S11B

DataOverCable · 01-24-2009, 01:09 PM

Shaky rumble from front end last July....thought "Oh No"....turns out the front drive shaft U-Knees seized from lack of use taking out the bearings. Taken care of by the dealer under warranty.

Well it is true that the front diff turns when not engaged...not so the drive shaft. Use it or loose it! Do now...didn't then.

Luke · 01-28-2009, 09:41 AM

My Titan is at the shop now. Diagnosis says that my front drive shaft "binded up" thus taking the seal/bearings of the transfer case with it. New transfer case needed, new drive shaft, and two new front hubs. I'm the second owner of the truck, bought it last November with 55K. Bought a third party extended 4 year/100,000 mile warranty too, but I'm worried because the contract says transfer is covered if failure is due to "internally lubricated parts failure". Any suggestions?

I'm trying to get the Nissan tech to play ball with me and convince the warranty company that the transfer case failed on its own. Each part is covered under my warranty, it's just a matter of "how" it failed. I'll find out today what they will cover and what they won't.....

oh, and I'll be submitting the problem to the ntsb or whatever it is.

PRJ · 01-28-2009, 12:52 PM

I'm convinced that NHTSA or NTSB or whatever it is, is a waste of time. Of all of the filings submitted by people on this site for the rear axle and few other things, NHTSA has done nothing to help us.

Not sure what the answer is, but this is BS that some of us have to pay for this crap on a vehicle with less than 80,000 miles.

Luke · 01-29-2009, 11:15 AM

I have trolled this site for a few weeks now after buying my truck and you're right, a LOT of formal complaints have been filed through the NHTSB yet nothing seems to be getting done about it. I am still awaiting the "inspectors" declaration on my parts to decide whether the warranty company will cover it. Personally, I've never seen or heard of a U joint "binding", perhaps bad bearings within the joint but never binding. I'm thinking the seal on the xfer case went on its own and the whole driveshaft issue is separate.

XXX_Titan · 02-04-2009, 10:05 AM

Ok. Got an answer from guys I know at Nissan Engineering

"As it turns out we are not going to need your friends Titan. There was a design change between 05-06 MY for the axle shaft, side gear, & snap ring specs, and also the pull out force spec. Although we still have some pull out issues now, prior to 06MY we had many more. FQI would still like your friend to fill out this questionnaire after the repair is performed."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPNRzRLPvCY

So................to answer the question about the two part numbers of the front diff's.

#38500-8S102 = 2004 thru 2006
#38500-8S11B = New designed diff. addressing the issues.

Make sure you are armed when talking to your stealership. Flat out tell them that Nissan engineers redesigned it due to the above issues.

Please note that the titan was orginally engineered in Japan and that the US nissan engineers told the Jap's about the abuse we put on our trucks. Now the US engineers are fixing their f-ups.

PRJ · 02-04-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XXX_Titan

Ok. I had some contacts at the Nissan (US) Engineering departments. My front diff just failed.

I got a response from the powertrain engineer for the Titan. See post:

Here's # of Rear Diff Failures Reported

Just out of curiousity...

How is it that you are able to communicate with the Nissan engineers?

Thanks for the post in the other thread. I posted the same part numbers in this thread above.

On a related subject... I'm getting my new front diff put in on Friday. I told the dealer that I want the old front diff back. Maybe someone here that has blown up their front diff would want to to buy my old one and just do the c-clip fix? Just thought I would throw it out there.

XXX_Titan · 02-05-2009, 04:55 AM

My best friend from HighSchool is an engineer there. He was on the launch in 2003-2005. He still knows guys in the Titan/Armada Platform Engineering Group.

I also found out that another change to the diff. part numbers that I referenced above is that the 05' has a 600N pull out requirement, not the 1000N requirement that are on the newer diffs.

Nissian and Dana are still looking for 2006 or newer Titans that have had the pull out issue. There are some reports of the axle pull out even after the change, but they said it dropped dramatically after the change.

As for someone buying the old version to "modify / repair". It's a lost cause in my opinion. I found a new diff on ebay for $500 (new part number). This is an 05 diff from an Armada. Armada's always got the fixes prior to Titans for some reason.

eBay Motors: Nissan Titan,Armada front Differential 2004-08 clean. (item 270335589308 end time Feb-24-09 16:23:28 PST)

NOHEARTBEAT · 02-05-2009, 10:54 AM

My front differential has been howling for over a year now. Hence my previous posts...however, this moning on way to work, there is a slight change in sound and my SLIP light is on and does not go out. I'm waiting to go out after work and check out underneath the truck.

PRJ · 02-05-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XXX_Titan

My best friend from HighSchool is an engineer there. He was on the launch in 2003-2005. He still knows guys in the Titan/Armada Platform Engineering Group.

I also found out that another change to the diff. part numbers that I referenced above is that the 05' has a 600N pull out requirement, not the 1000N requirement that are on the newer diffs.

Nissian and Dana are still looking for 2006 or newer Titans that have had the pull out issue. There are some reports of the axle pull out even after the change, but they said it dropped dramatically after the change.

As for someone buying the old version to "modify / repair". It's a lost cause in my opinion. I found a new diff on ebay for $500 (new part number). This is an 05 diff from an Armada. Armada's always got the fixes prior to Titans for some reason.

eBay Motors: Nissan Titan,Armada front Differential 2004-08 clean. (item 270335589308 end time Feb-24-09 16:23:28 PST)

Too funny. I have that differential in my watch list on e-bay also just to see if it sells. But since it was out of an '05 I decided to pass and just buy a new one. Being an '05 I am ssuming it has the same problems as my '04 since it seems the actual fix came out sometime in 2006. The sticker on the new differential I received yesterday has a manufacture date of 10/23/08 on it.

We've had a string of very cold days here in January in WI with the average high for the month being 6 degrees. One theory I heard is that the boot gets cold and stiff and when you turn the wheel all the way in one direction it pulls the shaft out. Coincidence or not, but it was 20 below zero the day I noticed the problem (fluid all over the garage floor) and it had been below zero numerous days before that. It has pulled out one other time since I had it looked at a few weeks ago, but I just crawled under the truck and pushed it back in. I do a lot of ice fishing where we drive on the lakes and 4wd is a necessity for me.

Tomorrow morning I go in and have the new front differential installed. Unfortunately on my dime. It's fun being Nissan's guinea pig.

wheel10 · 02-11-2009, 02:16 PM

Had the same problem as everyone else. Axle pulled out and my mechanic said it looked like glitter in the diff fluid from all the filings. Said the bearing ate itself up. Am going to take it to the Nissan dealer now to see if they'll cover it. it has 48,000 on it, a 2004 but I am not sure of the purchase date. Hopefully under 5 years. I bought it 8 months ago used/private party. Let you know how it goes. Mike