So now, what to do?
Pulled the rear wheels. RR has orange/brown staining, I'm assuming diff fluid.
Orange is usually rust. Pull rotor, inspect parking brake shoes, rotor. Rear axle seal leak typically appears as oil on backing plate.
Went to the wholesale parts shop, and checked part numbers on rear WB/Seals. Apparently the part # (A-30) has not changed from 2004(mine) to present. I'm thinking the only change they made for 2008(?) was the cover and vent for cooling. WB and seal is about $100 a side. Options?
2004-2007 use Timken Set 10 rear axle bearings (bearing/race/spacer ring) and Nissan 43252-7S200 rear axle seals. Bearing = $30 Seal is around $25. Another $50 for parking brake shoes and maybe $15 for the parking brake spring/clip kit.
RockAuto Auto Parts Some times leaking axle seal will soak parking brake shoes in gear oil to the point they need to be replaced.
Replacing check valve vent with a hose vent may help keep the seals from leaking.
http://www.titantalk.com/forums/titan-faq-howto-area/28334-axle-vent-issue-solution.html
2008+ went to larger diameter axle shafts with more splines.
http://www.titantalk.com/forums/titan-faq-howto-area/123384-replacing-axle-seals-w-pics.htm
Gear oil spec was changed to 75/140 synthetic for all years.
Finned cover can be bought from Nissan or aftermarket from PML, Stillen or Mag-Hytech. Aftermarket covers increase gear oil capacity.
1) pull both axles, change WB/Seal, 'fix' vent, put the finned cover on.
Sounds good to me. You need a press or just take shaft & parts to shop with press to press new bearings on.
2) find a used +2007 rearend and swap it in.
2007 is the same as 2004 except for the finned cover and if you have an e-locker they have a stronger 4 spider design. If you want to go for bigger axle shafts with seals that don't leak as often, you need 2008+. Disadvantage of 2008+ is that TruTrac will not fit the larger 35 spline axle shafts.
3)Have a local shop rebuild the entire rear end. Of course, they have no equipment to tell if one of the tubes is bent. Stealership said RR wheel wobbles, though I can't see it
If RR wobbles, you probably have a bent axle shaft, rather than a bent tube. You can check run out with on the axle shaft flange with a dial indicator.
You can get a master install kit that has all the bearings and seals except axle shaft seals and bearings. Nissan does not sell new ring and pinion set, but if needed you can probably call Arizona Differential and get a good used set because many people have done gear swaps. If you use TrueTrac LSD you would have a major upgrade. The TrueTrac bolts should be re-torqued with red high temp locktite prior to install (or bolts drilled and safety wired) so the bolts don't back out and wipe out the carrier bearing caps.
4)Find a machine shop that can make a Dana 60 fit the Titan (cost prohibitive obtion prolly)
Arizonal Differential builds Dana 60s with Titan tube ends so you retain your original brakes and ABS sensors. I dunno if they can match the oem front diff ratio with a Dana 60.
5)Drive the Titan through the glass wall of the Stealership (HUGE satisfaction quotient here!!)
Jail food sucks, not a good idea.
, while I was there (local transmission shop that I used to work at 25 years ago) one of the owners said the problem he has seen with the trans is antifreeze in the valve body. So I'm thinking I'll read around the forum about an external trans cooler maybe?
Yeah, I think good idea. Bypass radiator cooler and add external cooler and also replace all the crappy oem cooler hose and clamps. I think the correct Hayden Cooler is #679 and of course there are other brands, like Long Tru Cool. CSF makes an all aluminum radiator that will get you away from cracking plastic oem tanks, it you want to get it all done at once.
http://www.titantalk.com/forums/tit...715-radiator-bypassed-transmission-fluid.html