Rear pinion bearing, etc at 60k miles?

[Jeepr]

So, I noticed my rear pinion seal was leaking at took it to an independant shop today. They just called me and said there is play in the bearing, and depending on what they find if they tear into it, it could be as much as $1800!



Mind you, this is a 05 with only 60,000 miles! Fluids, including the diffs, have been changed religiously. So, I called the dealer and they say it IS covered under the 7/70 warranty, so that's good news. Now, I just hope the dealer doesn't play the same game they did with the ball joints and say "it's within spec" just to get it past the warranty time.



Anyway, this truck doesn't go off-road. It does have a KORE lift (which only raises the back less than 1") and 35's. And, it pulls my Jeep on a flatbed trailer and occassionally a 22' camper. None of this should be hard work for this truck.



Anyone have a similar experience with bearing(s) in the rear at fairly low mileage?

 

[Bob4x4]

I have seen a few pinion seals leak but very few bad bearings. How much do you trust that first shop?

 

[rscurtis]

I wouldn't buy into that diagnosis. A loose pinion bearing will give a very pronounced whine on deceleration. If the rear end is quiet, a seal replacement is probably all it needs.

 

[Slow Six]

I'm going in tomorrow for myh 4th pinion seal. I feel that they are a bit of a poor seal. The last one was soon after a rear diff rebuild and now less than 2 years later I need another one. I am also having problems with the rear output seal on the transfer case. I am hoping they can get them fixed tomorrow.

 

[JFought]

i spun a bearing on the rear axle they tried to hit me up for 1800 i told them to shuf it and call regional guy. A few hrs latter, they "are gonna cover it under warranty" dealers suck

supposedly i "overloaded a 3500 and that was the cause" when i moved the crap out of the way showing them i didn't even have a goose-neck hitch they started to back track on the cause... .

 

[JFought]

also the frt pinion seal has been done 3 times. it still weeps, but it is full so i just ignore it!
why fix it and have it weep soon again.....

 

[steved]

I had the pinion seal replaced three times by two different places... I finally gave up because nobody could give me a positive answer if they could fix it.



So I left it leak... and it quit leaking on its own, and has been dry nearly 75k miles?



I also have a seeping front seal, which is odd because it rarely turns...

 

[Jeepr]

Yeah, I just recently had the front pinion seal done also. The seal doesn't bother me, but bad bearings, that's a problem. The guy at the shop I went to is a friend from our Jeep club, and I trust him. But, I guess the visit to the dealer will be interesting.



I had one thought later last night. I have the DTT shift enhancer. I often run it in the "towing" mode as it controls flare shift better there. But, when it's in that mode, as I decelerate/brake, when the transmission downshifts it will "clunk" a bit. I sure hope that isn't putting stress on that rear axle/bearing causing the failure?

 

[Alan Reagan]

One thing that will make a pinion seal leak is if the axle vent is clogged. That build pressure and will cause the seal to start leaking.



Pull the vent tube off and if it is clear, pull the fitting out and make sure it is clear. If it is the vent, it will continue to cause the seal to leak.

 

[Slow Six]

When I had mine changed a couple of days ago they found the spring had come off the lip of the seal. I think they are a poorly designed seal.

 

[Alan Reagan]

When I had mine changed a couple of days ago they found the spring had come off the lip of the seal. I think they are a poorly designed seal.

Yep. That will make them leak, too. :-laf

 

[Jeepr]

Well took it to the dealer Monday night and they finally looked at it today, and claim the bearing is fine, and they are replacing the seal. So, now I don't know who to believe. uggghhh. And, to make things even more great, the truck sits out for 2 friggin days (normally safe & sound in the garage) and a hail storm goes through, and the dealer reports most of the vehicles on the lot got damaged. But, I stopped by tonight and didn't see any damage on my truck, hopefully there isn't something I missed.

 

[Jeepr]

Oh, an update. I do have hail damage. So, just my luck, my truck sleeps in the garage probably 350 days of the year, and the one time it had to sit outside (at the dealer) we got a hail storm and it got damage. Add to that, the fact that it looks like it didn't even need to be at the dealer, and I'm pretty annoyed.



Hail damage isn't too bad, maybe 7-10 spots on the hood, a few less than that on the roof and one good one on the back left door. Insurance estimate is $945 for paintless dent removal.