Dana 80 failing after less than 115,000 miles?
Chapter President
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,327
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From: Near Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee
The mechanic wrote the "diagnosis" as a "loose rear pinion". They told me to replace that part it's $1600 just for the part, and hours worth of labor to tear down and put back together. Thats when they said it would be more cost effective to replace the entire rear differential - $3000 for the component, and approx. $1000 for install. But it comes with a 3 year - 100,000 mile warranty.
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Hours worth the labor. I stood and watched my buddy drop the ring and pinion in about an hour this was after fighting to lift my truck on the drive on rack(it would not pick up the back of the truck to get the wheels off so we had to use a floor jack to assist the air jack) When I left it was 10am, he called me around 3 and said he was test driving it and I could come get it if I wanted to.
If there is to much backlash I don't see why they have to replace the whole rearend? Seems tearing down, checking and re-shimming seems like the logical repair. I'd get a second opinion myself, somebody who's not sitting around starving from flat rate.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 403
Likes: 18
From: Alberta, Canada
ummmmm - Dudette? (marine mom). Where in Washington state are you? If you want to drive N. of the 49th to Osoyoos, BC I will wrench that out for you myself and have my local certified wrench do the pinion backlash setting. Probably save you many, many dollars.
Run quickly away and find a decent mechanic who is not looking to make an easy buck through scare tactics. SHEESH!
Cheers!
Mike
Run quickly away and find a decent mechanic who is not looking to make an easy buck through scare tactics. SHEESH!
Cheers!
Mike
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,541
Likes: 1
after all the responses and the little i've learned in the last few days, that question also comes to mind. I've trusted them to lube my truck as needed, and if it hasn't been getting what it needs, that would be my fault for being ignorant.
The mechanic wrote the "diagnosis" as a "loose rear pinion". They told me to replace that part it's $1600 just for the part, and hours worth of labor to tear down and put back together. Thats when they said it would be more cost effective to replace the entire rear differential - $3000 for the component, and approx. $1000 for install. But it comes with a 3 year - 100,000 mile warranty.
I'm now thinking if these guys I've met that work on my truck can do this, so can I. It's surely not rocket science because these guys are obviously not the sharpest knives in the drawer. How hard can it be to replace a pinion? (I don't know what one is) The hard part would be getting my truck up in the air to do it.
in addition, there is no noise or vibration that I've noticed coming from there, and I pay pretty close attention to my "baby".
The mechanic wrote the "diagnosis" as a "loose rear pinion". They told me to replace that part it's $1600 just for the part, and hours worth of labor to tear down and put back together. Thats when they said it would be more cost effective to replace the entire rear differential - $3000 for the component, and approx. $1000 for install. But it comes with a 3 year - 100,000 mile warranty.
I'm now thinking if these guys I've met that work on my truck can do this, so can I. It's surely not rocket science because these guys are obviously not the sharpest knives in the drawer. How hard can it be to replace a pinion? (I don't know what one is) The hard part would be getting my truck up in the air to do it.
in addition, there is no noise or vibration that I've noticed coming from there, and I pay pretty close attention to my "baby".
Get another opinion.
Anyone near you that drag races, or any auto racers at all? Ask thier opinion.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,541
Likes: 1
Just a little more info.
not to be demeaning to anyone, here is what a ring and pinion looks like.
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The pinion connects to the driveshaft. I bet he shook the rear shaft to inspect for loose u-joints and found it. If there is no leaks or noise or signs of issues, drive it.
not to be demeaning to anyone, here is what a ring and pinion looks like.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The pinion connects to the driveshaft. I bet he shook the rear shaft to inspect for loose u-joints and found it. If there is no leaks or noise or signs of issues, drive it.
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