Did dealership mess up my front diff?

[DOGMARLEY]

Dealership replaced CV axle and inner seal. After, I had a new drivetrain noise that increased and decreased with acceleration and deceleration. They drove it and agreed it was an abnormal noise. They put LSD fluid in the front diff (which I was told was wrong gear oil). They replaced oil with correct grade and are now saying my gear in the diff are tearing up. My truck was perfect when I took it in except for a boot tear.

Could they have installed the inner seal wrong and that is causing the noise. Could they have forced the new CV axle in and caused damage to my diff gears?

Any guidance is greatly appreciated.

Justin

 

[ewrk1989]

How would you describe the noise? After doing my CV job, I think I notice a bit of extra noise during acceleration. Nothing for deceleration.

I believe the proper fluid will be 80W-90, which may say "limited slip" on the container, like in the case of Valvoline.

It's important to catch any oil that leaves the diff during the CV install so that you know about how much to replace. It's possible they lost oil and didn't replace?

 

[aging fleet]

I'm of no help with the diff question, but feel your dealership pain. I took mine in a few weeks ago to have the side airbag recall completed and an alignment. They scratched my paint while wrestling the alignment tools onto or off of my rear wheel. Accidents happen and the scratch isn't a big deal, but the carelessness just makes me bananas.

Hopefully your diff problem is something minor.

 

[DOGMARLEY]

The best way I can describe it is it sounds like a front wheel drive car with a CVT transmission....acceleration at certain speeds (25-45) causes a mid to high pitch whining sound and with I let off the gas or brake, it sounds like the sound is winding down. It does not sound like an "alternator going bad" sound.

 

[DOGMARLEY]

They pulled the diff plug and there were a lot of metal shavings on the magnet, but that could be from mileage or from there install going wrong and me driving it for a week. Frustrating. I just don't want to let them off the hook if it's something they accidentally caused

 

[ewrk1989]

The sound that I think is new (I say it like that because it may have been there before) is just a slight growl accompanied with a little bit of vibration from somewhere up front.

In your case, I'm not sure what a "whine" would be.

Having done the job, I'm not sure if there's a way to "force" the axle in unless the splines are already interlocked. Maybe, but I think you'd have to be seriously abusing the CV with a huge hammer. The depth should be controlled by a couple different things, including the snap/lock rings at either end.

 

[jbuswim]

Interested in any responses too. I had the exact same issue. My 01 was flawless and noise free. After the diff service it had a slight whine and noise with it.

 

[duggy]

Definitely sounds like a gear whine that may have been pre-exisiting that was masked with heavier gear oil. When they put the correct fluid in there, the whine comes back. This can be caused by poor backlash (from a worn crush sleeve) or worn bearings or gears.

Diagnose by pulling the front drive plates and driveshaft.

 

[Hayes]

Have you confirmed that the noise comes from the diff? It could be anything in the front half of the drive train. Wheel bearings? I've never driven on a CV with less than 100k miles on it--would a brand new CV make noise as it "breaks in?"

 

[fooldall1]

Have you confirmed that the noise comes from the diff? It could be anything in the front half of the drive train. Wheel bearings? I've never driven on a CV with less than 100k miles on it--would a brand new CV make noise as it "breaks in?"

Doubt it, else all new 100 series would have whined from the factory.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

It sounds like they drove it without gear oil in the differential. Then filled it up and it's noisy.

Many 80W-90 gear oils have the limited slip additive and it causes no harm in a normal differential.

The only other thing that comes to mind is if they put the driveshaft back in out of phase. But I don't know why it would have been out to change a CV.

Sucks to be in this position, but it sounds like the dealer owes you a new front differential.

 

[duggy]

It sounds like they drove it without gear oil in the differential. Then filled it up and it's noisy.

Many 80W-90 gear oils have the limited slip additive and it causes no harm in a normal differential.

The only other thing that comes to mind is if they put the driveshaft back in out of phase. But I don't know why it would have been out to change a CV.

Sucks to be in this position, but it sounds like the dealer owes you a new front differential.

Quite a possibility also. I try to see the good in people, but sometimes crappy stuff like this happens.

 

[fooldall1]

Demand satisfaction, you paid- they F'd up.

 

[nissanh]

Are you sure they installed the same diff that came out of your truck?

 

[DOGMARLEY]

Just picked my truck up and gear wine is still there. They thought it might be the bearings and I quickly reminders them they just replaced the bearings when they did my brakes and new rotors.

As far as I know, you don't pull the diff to replace inner seal...am I wrong? I am thinking the tech did something wrong and just isn't owning it.

It may sound crazy, but the truck just drives different now. I feel like it's having to downshift more on hills it never had to ans my MPGs did drop, but it's too soon to tell if that's abnormal or my driving.

I'm not going to stop pressing the dealer, but it's hard to argue diff wear when my truck has 190k on it. But seriously, it drove perfect and was as quite as a mouse before they touched it

 

[Bomar]

Keep pushing on Dealer. If not start getting Toyota Corp involved.

 

[DOGMARLEY]

So in order to replace inner seal, they had to open up the diff and remove gears? Remove pinion nut? I've been trying to research, but I'm clueless when it comes to axles and gears.

Thanks for the help

 

[ewrk1989]

Just to be clear about which seal you're talking about--are you saying they replaced the oil seals at the CV-differential interface? There's no need to open up the diff at all for that.

Might be an interesting exercise to ask them to point out to you on the FSM diagram what they touched. Could be useful if you end up calling Toyota Corp.

 

[DOGMARLEY]

Ewrk,

Yes, they did the passenger side inner seal at the diff.

 

[yeti in ga]

I hate hearing things like this, CV axles suck..