Differential problem after pinion seal replacement

[Scusi]

Hi all
Need your advice
2017 Ram 1500 quad cab
Pinion seal was leaking at 65,000 miles
Dealer fixed it for 1200.00 with new nut and crush spacer
3500 miles later a whining noise from the diff, acceleration and deceleration
Got louder and took it back to dealer
Now they say I might need a spindle bearing
I feel the job might have been done improperly with under or overtightning the rotational torque, etc
They are not committing to it being their fault
They say 'We will know when we get in there'
I dont feel there will be an obvious 'smoking gun' to point towards the problem being their fault...
How should I proceed?

 

[mdc1990zr1]

Hi all
Need your advice
2017 Ram 1500 quad cab
Pinion seal was leaking at 65,000 miles
Dealer fixed it for 1200.00 with new nut and crush spacer
3500 miles later a whining noise from the diff, acceleration and deceleration
Got louder and took it back to dealer
Now they say I might need a spindle bearing
I feel the job might have been done improperly with under or overtightning the rotational torque, etc
They are not committing to it being their fault
They say 'We will know when we get in there'
I dont feel there will be an obvious 'smoking gun' to point towards the problem being their fault...
How should I proceed?

They would have had to remove the bearing(s) to replace the crush washer and reset. The bearings should have been inspected at that time. I would say if it was bad and the cause of the seal failure and was missed by them, they should eat the cost of the labor on the redo and you should pay for the new bearings. That cost for you would be fair and inexpensive.

 

[HarryS]

You've got to do a preload (IIRC) when you replace the crush washer and nut.

 

[Grams]

The crush sleeve on a pinion Does NOT provide “pre-load” for the pinion bearings (as some believe.)
It’s job is to prevent the front bearing “race” from spinning with the pinion shaft. It does this by transferring friction from the rear bearing race to the fwd bearing. If an improper crush-sleeve is installed…it can ruin the fwd bearing by allowing it to spin on the shaft.
The question I have is…Why did they replace that crush sleeve? If they say in order to maintain or increase bearing pre-load…then that will demonstrate their lack of knowledge about differentials…and they should pay for any repairs (which If it were me, I’d have performed elsewhere if this develops thusly.)

 

[Scusi]

Thank you all for the input.
I know the dealer will have some excuse to try and clear any potential errors/oversights.
I will discuss with them this week.

 

[DILLIGAF]

1200$ bucks is excessively high for that job, heck it would have been cheaper at a performance 4x4 shop.

Ask them to see the gear pattern before they close up the diff. Because if they don't check that they're f****** retarded.

 

[Scusi]

Chose to have an independent do the job who only does differentials.
Complete rebuild for 2200$
Said the bearing "fell apart in my hands"
Too bad the dealership did not notice the bearing was bad.
He said he does 4-5 Ram's a month...with as little as 23,000 miles
Blames it on the foreign bearings

 

[Grams]

You can buy online, brand new complete rear axles for less than that.

The differential, complete, new is less.

A used one, in good condition is less than HALF that.

How many days/miles since the dealer repaired it? It should have a 90-day warranty. I’d take it right back to them and make THEM correct it.

Suppose you take it elsewhere…and a few months later….Exact same thing re-occurs. WHO you gonna hold responsible then?

 

[Hagar1]

I have done countless pinion seals and never had a problem. I never replaced a crush sleeve except when overhauling a diff. I always used a center punch to mark the nut and the end of the pinion close to the mark on the nut. Once you are done and those two marks are lined back up, you will be back to where you were except with a new pinion seal.
How long should the job take? In most cases a little over an hour, maybe a bit longer in severe cases.

 

[Grams]

I have done countless pinion seals and never had a problem. I never replaced a crush sleeve except when overhauling a diff. I always used a center punch to mark the nut and the end of the pinion close to the mark on the nut. Once you are done and those two marks are lined back up, you will be back to where you were except with a new pinion seal.
How long should the job take? In most cases a little over an hour, maybe a bit longer in severe cases.

YEP! EXACTLY!

It was MY JOB as the rear-axle trained specialist at Toyota when I was paying my way thru college and flight school to do this job…. did ‘em several times each week.

Hagar1 ‘s method is EXACTLY how you do this simple job.

(Don’t forget to also mark the drive-shaft to re-install it in the same orientation as found.)

 

[Hagar1]

1200$ bucks is excessively high for that job, heck it would have been cheaper at a performance 4x4 shop.

Ask them to see the gear pattern before they close up the diff. Because if they don't check that they're f****** retarded.

Charging the guy that kind of money is definitely a rip off.
Unless one is digging deeper into the diff, why would the cover even be removed? Disconnect the drive shaft, mark the nut and the pinion, remove pinion nut, remove yoke, remove the bad seal, clean seal are. Install new seal, install yoke, install nut and tighten to line up the marks that were made. Install driveshaft. Check the diff to ensure it has the proper amount of oil and out the door it goes. It will never be any different than before the seal was changed.
I have done exactly as above for countless pinion seals over the years.
Never once in 50 years did I ever check gear pattern after a pinion seal job.

 

[Hagar1]

YEP! EXACTLY!

It was MY JOB as the rear-axle trained specialist at Toyota when I was paying my way thru college and flight school to do this job…. did ‘em several times each week.

Hagar1 ‘s method is EXACTLY how you do this simple job.

(Don’t forget to also mark the drive-shaft to re-install it in the same orientation as found.)

Yup! I forgot the mark the driveshaft.

 

[Scusi]

The dealer wanted close to 5000$ to do the complete differential and I am sure after he broke it down he would say the failure wasn't their fault and I would be stuck with the 5000$ bill.
It has been 4 months since they did the seal.
Truck was ok till around month 3.5 when the noise started.

 

[Grams]

The dealer wanted close to 5000$ to do the complete differential and I am sure after he broke it down he would say the failure wasn't their fault and I would be stuck with the 5000$ bill.
It has been 4 months since they did the seal.
Truck was ok till around month 3.5 when the noise started.

and you also mentioned it was several thousand miles…. Soo…it’s not likely the dealers repair fault after-all.

You can buy the entire rear axle assembly much cheaper than you’re being quoted.

 

[Hagar1]

YEP! EXACTLY!

It was MY JOB as the rear-axle trained specialist at Toyota when I was paying my way thru college and flight school to do this job…. did ‘em several times each week.

Hagar1 ‘s method is EXACTLY how you do this simple job.

(Don’t forget to also mark the drive-shaft to re-install it in the same orientation as found.)

Flight school ........... I got my license in 1969 when you could rent a Champ for $12.00 wet. PA 12 was $13 and the old Cessna 170 was $15. Those were the days When I quit flying you couldn't buy 2 gallons of Av gas for $12.00!!!

 

[RamCares]

Hi all
Need your advice
2017 Ram 1500 quad cab
Pinion seal was leaking at 65,000 miles
Dealer fixed it for 1200.00 with new nut and crush spacer
3500 miles later a whining noise from the diff, acceleration and deceleration
Got louder and took it back to dealer
Now they say I might need a spindle bearing
I feel the job might have been done improperly with under or overtightning the rotational torque, etc
They are not committing to it being their fault
They say 'We will know when we get in there'
I dont feel there will be an obvious 'smoking gun' to point towards the problem being their fault...
How should I proceed?

We would like to look into this matter a little further. Please send a private message with the date of your dealer appointment for us to review.

Hannah
Ram Cares

 

[Grams]

Flight school ........... I got my license in 1969 when you could rent a Champ for $12.00 wet. PA 12 was $13 and the old Cessna 170 was $15. Those were the days When I quit flying you couldn't buy 2 gallons of Av gas for $12.00!!!

HA! I learned at HOU and rented a ‘59 150 for $8/hr wet, and the instructor was $5/hr.
(If you consider inflation….I.P.’s make even LESS today.

Got my pvt in May ‘70, my commercial Sept ‘70, CFI Nov. “70 and Multi-eng Jan ‘71. Flew pipeline to build time, had my ATP by ‘73. LOL

 

[Hagar1]

HA! I learned at HOU and rented a ‘59 150 for $8/hr wet, and the instructor was $5/hr.
(If you consider inflation….I.P.’s make even LESS today.

I've never flown a 150. Got time in a bunch of taildraggers, Cherokee, 152, 172, 182, piper Navaho chieftain to name a few. Probably the plane I should have kept was my 90hp J-3,

 

[Dusty]

I have done countless pinion seals and never had a problem. I never replaced a crush sleeve except when overhauling a diff. I always used a center punch to mark the nut and the end of the pinion close to the mark on the nut. Once you are done and those two marks are lined back up, you will be back to where you were except with a new pinion seal.
How long should the job take? In most cases a little over an hour, maybe a bit longer in severe cases.

Good comment and this is the way it's done in the field. This is a person who knows what they're doing!

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 141331 miles.

 

[Daniel J]

Where are you located? I just had my 02 1500 diff completely rebuilt at East Coast Gear in Lewisburg, NC.
$1800 With Richmond gears, rebuilt limited slip and all new bearings and seals installed.