Well that could have gone a little smoother......

I hung around till they diagnosed it. Was told it was the rear diff. I told them to go ahead and fix it and then got a room.

Then they found out on a test drive that the front diff was the problem.

Because of parts availability and time constraints I had to settle for a pump-less front diff instead of a pump unit like the truck had originally. I hope I don't regret that decision.

In the end the service manager did what he could to make it right and I figured it best to leave the new rear diff alone than to re instal the original million mile unit. They offered to do that. Had them do a full brake job since it was all apart anyways.

December has been an expensive month:
4 trailer tires
1 alternator
2 diffs
Full brake job on the drives.
3 nights at a motel waiting.

The bright side:
I got a pretty good deal at the shop.
I'll get home for Christmas.
When I checked into the motel for the third night....

Happy Gilmore was playing!

 

That's the way I see it too.

 

I agree. I went over to look at it and visually, there was nothing apparently wrong. They told me they found no traces of metal either. I'm a pretty good wrench but I'm not a mechanic so I deferred to their opinion. But it didn't sit well in the back of my mind.

When they drained the front diff....they found all the evidence they needed.

 

No I don't agree. I think they screwed up. But yes I expected the front to fail before the rear, and it did.

They cut me a pretty fair deal on the bill so I'm pretty sure there was no malicious intent.

I just hope their attention to detail in assembly was better than in diagnostics. Time will tell.

 

LOL.

That third picture......the teeth look like they're on Meth.