Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
gsbrockman
TDR MEMBER
During early June, I began encountering an unusual vibration (slight "rumble") and noise (light "howl") in the driveline. My primary concern was the vibration...it was only there in between a very slight direct pull and yet not a 100% coasting situation. I tried to get it in during June, but my dealer was at about a 2.5 week delay. I was later able to get it in around July 3rd and 99,926 miles to have it diagnosed.
I was able to test drive with my technician and subsequently was able to duplicate the vibration and noise with the technician. No "cannot duplicate" on this issue !!!
I had a suspicion that it could be universal joints, a carrier bearing, or maybe even a pinion bearing issue. I was really hoping for universal joints, as that would be a much less costly proposition. In being paranoid about the vibration, I barely got it in under the 100k mile mark, just in the event it was an internal axle issue.
After getting my 2013 Kia Rio loaner car (sans B&W Gooseneck hitch) they later tore into it and determined that I had it narrowed down to one of the three things...it was indeed a pinion bearing issue. The dealer had most of the parts in stock, but would have preferred to have had a couple other parts there----just in the event they had it torn down and it needed them, as opposed to having it torn down and then having to order them.
In a nutshell, the technician did not like the way the ring & pinion were wearing (and due to some "pitting") and ultimately requested those items to be replaced as well. This put the repairs over $750 which required additional information to be supplied to warranty. Either my service writer or the tech determined I had over 60k miles of towing (which I already knew via the odometer reading in the tow settings) so that actually helped me get it expedited a little quicker.
I basically have an entire new rear end....new pinion bearings and seals, new ring & pinion, new side bearings, and new axle bearings and wheel seals.
This truck had a slight "howling" noise since new, but I never complained as it's a one-ton pickup with a medium duty Cummins diesel and a medium duty AISIN transmission. I <never> had expectations that it would shift like an Accord or Chrysler 200. I never expected it to be as quite as a Camry or a Chrysler 300.....and never really complained. In hindsight.....I imagine there was a problem since new.
I'm just thankful I had warranty remaining. I've not looked up the part numbers, but I imagine it would have gotten quite expensive. I'll try to attach a list of part numbers from the warranty invoice. I also had a few updates performed, one of which made the AISIN shift like garbage for a few hundred miles. The shifting went back to normal.
Unless I've overlooked it....I might be the first person with an 11.8 / 300mm axle issue to date. In any event.....all is well with The Radio Flyer.
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***EDIT***
I just googled all of the part numbers above and was able to find an MSRP for everything in the invoice in post #1........looks like parts alone was $1,621.25 retail...plus, as best I can tell, 5.10 labor hours (whatever the warranty labor rate per hour is).
I was able to test drive with my technician and subsequently was able to duplicate the vibration and noise with the technician. No "cannot duplicate" on this issue !!!
I had a suspicion that it could be universal joints, a carrier bearing, or maybe even a pinion bearing issue. I was really hoping for universal joints, as that would be a much less costly proposition. In being paranoid about the vibration, I barely got it in under the 100k mile mark, just in the event it was an internal axle issue.
After getting my 2013 Kia Rio loaner car (sans B&W Gooseneck hitch) they later tore into it and determined that I had it narrowed down to one of the three things...it was indeed a pinion bearing issue. The dealer had most of the parts in stock, but would have preferred to have had a couple other parts there----just in the event they had it torn down and it needed them, as opposed to having it torn down and then having to order them.
In a nutshell, the technician did not like the way the ring & pinion were wearing (and due to some "pitting") and ultimately requested those items to be replaced as well. This put the repairs over $750 which required additional information to be supplied to warranty. Either my service writer or the tech determined I had over 60k miles of towing (which I already knew via the odometer reading in the tow settings) so that actually helped me get it expedited a little quicker.
I basically have an entire new rear end....new pinion bearings and seals, new ring & pinion, new side bearings, and new axle bearings and wheel seals.
This truck had a slight "howling" noise since new, but I never complained as it's a one-ton pickup with a medium duty Cummins diesel and a medium duty AISIN transmission. I <never> had expectations that it would shift like an Accord or Chrysler 200. I never expected it to be as quite as a Camry or a Chrysler 300.....and never really complained. In hindsight.....I imagine there was a problem since new.
I'm just thankful I had warranty remaining. I've not looked up the part numbers, but I imagine it would have gotten quite expensive. I'll try to attach a list of part numbers from the warranty invoice. I also had a few updates performed, one of which made the AISIN shift like garbage for a few hundred miles. The shifting went back to normal.
Unless I've overlooked it....I might be the first person with an 11.8 / 300mm axle issue to date. In any event.....all is well with The Radio Flyer.
#ad***EDIT***
I just googled all of the part numbers above and was able to find an MSRP for everything in the invoice in post #1........looks like parts alone was $1,621.25 retail...plus, as best I can tell, 5.10 labor hours (whatever the warranty labor rate per hour is).
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