I have a 1999 XLT with a stock positraction rear axle. The vehicle has approximatly 160,000 miles on it and has, for the most part, been properly maintained.
I recently took it into a local mechanic (whom I believe is reasonably competent and honest)for an engine oil leak (leaking oil filter adapter bracket, which was repaired without further incident). while I had it there, I mentioned that the rear axle seals were leaking, and could he fix those. He later called me and told me that the rear pinion seal was leaking as well. I authorized repairs for both. It was reported to me that all the repairs had been completed and that everything looked good.
I then proceeded to take a rather lengthy road trip, 2600 miles in one week. (towards the end of the trip, i noticed a little bit of rear end noise, and made a mental note to call him up and mention it. Upon my return, I turned the vehicle over to my wife and kids (as many of us must reluctantly do) and didn't drive the vehicle for a couple weeks. They put another 400 miles on it, with out comment (as might be expected from one's wife and kids).
A couple of days ago, I drove the vehicle and noted that the rear end noise was considerably more noticeable. I crawled under the vehicle and noticed that the entire differential case, and the underside of the vehicle was coated in oil. and that there was a hose (breather?) that was loose. I decided to drive the vehicle to the mechanic the next day. On the way, (with very noticeable rear end noise, I stopped off for coffee and discovered that I couldn't maneuver in the parking lot; the differential appeared to be a locker now.
Eventually, i got it to the mechanic, and, after tearing into it, his statement was " the pinion bearing is pretty much destroyed, and possibly the carrier bearings too, and there is a lot of metal floating around. I don't know whatever could have caused it."
Is it just me? or is it kind of suspicious that I only started experiencing these issues after he worked on the differential and replaced the seals? Is there something that he could have done /screwed up on that lead to the premature demise of my pinion bearing? I am a reasonable person, and a mechanical engineer, and I understand that mechanical components don't last forever, and that there could be a variety of reasons why this failure may have occurred, but 160,000 miles doesn't seem like a stretch but it seems to me like this should be a mechanics warranty issue. I am told that, if the Pinion is messed around with, and the crush washer is not replaced or properly torqued upon reassembly, that it can totally mess things up. I don't want to screw anybody over, and I kind of like this mechanic, but i don't want to pay for his screw up.
Any comments/suggestions as to how I should proceed?
I recently took it into a local mechanic (whom I believe is reasonably competent and honest)for an engine oil leak (leaking oil filter adapter bracket, which was repaired without further incident). while I had it there, I mentioned that the rear axle seals were leaking, and could he fix those. He later called me and told me that the rear pinion seal was leaking as well. I authorized repairs for both. It was reported to me that all the repairs had been completed and that everything looked good.
I then proceeded to take a rather lengthy road trip, 2600 miles in one week. (towards the end of the trip, i noticed a little bit of rear end noise, and made a mental note to call him up and mention it. Upon my return, I turned the vehicle over to my wife and kids (as many of us must reluctantly do) and didn't drive the vehicle for a couple weeks. They put another 400 miles on it, with out comment (as might be expected from one's wife and kids).
A couple of days ago, I drove the vehicle and noted that the rear end noise was considerably more noticeable. I crawled under the vehicle and noticed that the entire differential case, and the underside of the vehicle was coated in oil. and that there was a hose (breather?) that was loose. I decided to drive the vehicle to the mechanic the next day. On the way, (with very noticeable rear end noise, I stopped off for coffee and discovered that I couldn't maneuver in the parking lot; the differential appeared to be a locker now.
Eventually, i got it to the mechanic, and, after tearing into it, his statement was " the pinion bearing is pretty much destroyed, and possibly the carrier bearings too, and there is a lot of metal floating around. I don't know whatever could have caused it."
Is it just me? or is it kind of suspicious that I only started experiencing these issues after he worked on the differential and replaced the seals? Is there something that he could have done /screwed up on that lead to the premature demise of my pinion bearing? I am a reasonable person, and a mechanical engineer, and I understand that mechanical components don't last forever, and that there could be a variety of reasons why this failure may have occurred, but 160,000 miles doesn't seem like a stretch but it seems to me like this should be a mechanics warranty issue. I am told that, if the Pinion is messed around with, and the crush washer is not replaced or properly torqued upon reassembly, that it can totally mess things up. I don't want to screw anybody over, and I kind of like this mechanic, but i don't want to pay for his screw up.
Any comments/suggestions as to how I should proceed?
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