Your thoughts on how to deal with dealer on probably rear end problem

[AH64ID]

I just want to know why every body thinks the AAM are good. Ive had 8 different 2500 and 3500 4x4 cummins since 03. Out of my 8 exactly half (4) have had to have rear ends rebuilt within 36,000 miles. My current 2011 started whining at 472 miles, now at 2212 it howls. Yes I followed the book on break in. And it seems like everytime I go to my dealer there is a different truck on the rack getting pinon seals.

What are you doing to your trucks? This is not normal wear at all! The front's can bend when abused, but the rear is one of the strongest, if not the strongest, axle aver put in a pickup. Dodge specs bearing that have a 50% higher life expectancy than the same axle in the GM, they are not underbuilt!

 

[BIGNASTY]

LOOK IM NOT MAKING A SOCILALY INDIGNANT COMMENT ABOUT DEALERSHIPSNOPE IM NOT GOING TO DO IT. I know how much you want me to but NO:-laf GOOD LUCK

 

[Jeepr]

haha, fun thread.

The truck has been modified and the dealer has declined further repairs.



What is it that is so hard to understand about this fundamental truth?

To be clear, they have not "voided my warranty" or "declined further repairs". Their finding was not consistent with what my independant mechanic found, and the fact that it is leaking again, tends to give credibility to the independant guy. I have an appointment back at the same dealer on Thursday (I called the service manager), so we will see what happens.



When you suggest an entire warranty is voided because of any mods, then you clearly aren't familiar with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

 

[HBarlow]

haha, fun thread.



To be clear, they have not "voided my warranty" or "declined further repairs". Their finding was not consistent with what my independant mechanic found, and the fact that it is leaking again, tends to give credibility to the independant guy. I have an appointment back at the same dealer on Thursday (I called the service manager), so we will see what happens.

When you suggest an entire warranty is voided because of any mods, then you clearly aren't familiar with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

I have read and understand the Warranty Act quite well actually. It has been discussed many times here in the forums. It is frequently introduced to discussions by those with modified trucks and denied warranty repairs who wish to believe they are better lawyers than Dodge or their dealer. In ten years of membership in TDR I've yet to see one of them force Dodge to repair something that had been refused or sue Dodge or their dealer in court.

You and I both know I did not mean the entire warranty was voided. You're trying to win an arguement with semantics.

 

[AEdelheit]

Harvey, just an FYI I think you would be very supprised at how much some dealers will still cover with modified trucks. It all depends on the dealer your at, obviouosly some will try to void your entire warrenty for aftermarket wiper blades while others will warrenty a transmission on a twin turbo truck with 40" tires.

 

[Nyoest]

LOOK IM NOT MAKING A SOCILALY INDIGNANT COMMENT ABOUT DEALERSHIPSNOPE IM NOT GOING TO DO IT. I know how much you want me to but NO:-laf GOOD LUCK

Well, at least some good came out of this thread!



To the OP, may the force be with you.

 

[sag2]

This could all be put to rest by going back to your independent and have him show you with a dial indicator what is out of spec. The pinion should have no "up and down", or "in and out" play, but the only way to properly diagnose it is to pull the ring gear out of the housing. If back lash is out of spec, that adjustment has nothing to do with the pinion adjustment. If the pinion was "out of spec" and causing the leak, that means the bearings have to be bad, and bad bearings make lots of noise. If anything, the pinion yoke has a worn spot where the seal rides, or the seal was installed incorrectly.

Also, I have mentioned this several times before, was it leaking or weeping? if it was not dripping on the ground, changing the seal and not following the correct procedure is way worse than leaving it alone. Be careful what you ask for, you might get more than you wanted.

 

[HBarlow]

Harvey, just an FYI I think you would be very supprised at how much some dealers will still cover with modified trucks. It all depends on the dealer your at, obviouosly some will try to void your entire warrenty for aftermarket wiper blades while others will warrenty a transmission on a twin turbo truck with 40" tires.

Yeah, I know. I have read of some dealers who ignore modifications that are unrelated to failures but some don't. Some may have attentive and strict district service reps that look over their shoulders when expensive warranty repairs are submitted and some may have been burned by chargebacks from Dodge on expensive warranty repairs they have performed. Some TDR members have even claimed they purchased magic black boxes from the parts department and their dealer service department installed them. All of that probably makes everyone happy until a $15,000 engine is trashed and Dodge tells them, "no way. "

 

[Jeepr]

hbarlow, I wasn't trying to over dramatize it, I took your comment of

If the warranty is null and void, which we agree on, why would the dealer have any obligation to perform any diagnosis or repair?

as suggesting my whole warranty is gone. I'm not trying to attack you, you've given me some good advice in the past.



sag2 - it was enough to drip on the garage floor. And, yes, if this trip to the dealer doesn't resolve it, then I will probably have to get my independant guy to show me. I crawled under there, with truck in Neutral, and didn't feel any play, but I didn't remove the driveshaft. Without looking at it, just over the phone, the dealer suggested that back & forth/up & down play should not be there, but that in/out play is acceptable within backlash specs.



We'll see how it goes today.

 

[Wingate]

Without looking at it, just over the phone, the dealer suggested that back & forth/up & down play should not be there, but that in/out play is acceptable within backlash specs.



We'll see how it goes today.

I'm hoping the dealer was confused. . (or maybe I am... ) But the last ring and pinion I set up the "backlash" was basically clearance between the ring and pinion teeth...

I wasn't aware of ANY acceptable movement on the pinion gear... The pinion bearings are suppose to be pre-loaded, not lashed...

 

[WMoroni]

What are you doing to your trucks? This is not normal wear at all! The front's can bend when abused, but the rear is one of the strongest, if not the strongest, axle aver put in a pickup. Dodge specs bearing that have a 50% higher life expectancy than the same axle in the GM, they are not underbuilt!

Just normal use that you would expect with a heavy duty pickup. Every failure so far seems to have been from incorrect set up at the factory. On my 07 if I remember right it had enough metal from the gears in it I got an entire new housing and all. I've never had a bearing failure execpt the 07. The gears seem to be what I have trouble with.

 

[sag2]

I'm hoping the dealer was confused. . (or maybe I am... ) But the last ring and pinion I set up the "backlash" was basically clearance between the ring and pinion teeth...

I wasn't aware of ANY acceptable movement on the pinion gear... The pinion bearings are suppose to be pre-loaded, not lashed...

You are correct, there should be NO movement in the pinion. Backlash is clearance between the pinion gear (teeth) and the ring gear (teeth).