Posted: Oct 18 2005 at 10:56am | IP Logged

I haven't pulled my diff. down as yet because I'm still trying to get the dealer I bought it from in Ft Lauderdale to honor the warranty, even though I have the truck outside the US. I figure that it's either it's replaced under warranty (which is supposedly void once the vehicle is registered outside the US) or I'll sue NissanUSA, Dana-Spicer and/or the Dealer. There is ample evidence of this being a prevalent problem and Nissan seemingly has done nothing to address it. The new finned diff. cover and the oil upgrade don't even come close to addressing this problem. (And it was an existing problem when I bought my truck in Dec. 04)

It appears that the problem is that there is a split pin (of all things!) holding the "spider" gears pin in place. It doesn't take much of a genius to figure out that a split pin, which uses the split to create the interference fit, is only appropriate for a dowel type application, and definitely should NOT be used for a differerential pin! If you can imagine the loading and unloading of each of the spider gears in an open diff. assembly during normal driving, which then causes the differential gear pin to slam back and forth in it's bore, coupled with the centrifugal force that the spinning carrier generates, you can appreciate that it won't take long for a split pin to be compressed to the point that it literally drops out, causing the diff gear pin to do the same, with catastrophic results.

So, I'm a little pissed here bacause I have a truck that I have over US$55,000.00 (including Gov't import duty) invested in sitting in my yard, broke down because Dana and/or Nissan tried to save a few bucks by using a $1.00 part instead of a hardened threaded pin (like a $5.00 part) and meanwhile my dealer is quibbling over warranty issues.

If they want to play that game, I'm sure I can find an attorney somewhere in South Florida that would have a field day with this! As far as I am concerned, Dana in particular has no excuse, since it has built tens of millions of Differentials, since at least the mid-Sixties, for everything from Corvettes to Dump Trucks, so they should know better - especially where they were obviously asked by Nissan to build a "beffier" unit!! 

Posted: Oct 19 2005 at 1:30pm | IP Logged

I have to agree that this unit is a piece of sh#$. I have asked the dealer about a buy back or trade. The "best price they can do to keep me happy" price they want to give for my 04 crew cab 4x4 se with everything with 16k miles is about $20,500. Fifteen months ago I payed $31,000. Even they must know that the ones with electronic locking defferentials is a peice of junk. Whats up with this.

I do love my truck and would love to keep it but there is a point at which it needs to go. That point for me was when it leaves me walking in the middle of the night in a very bad part of town very far from home wondering what will happen to my truck, boat, and gear that I had to leave behind.

Posted: Oct 21 2005 at 10:50am | IP Logged

I know, I called Courtesy Nissan (in Texas) and they told me Nissan doesn't sell parts for the diff. and quoted me like $2,300.00 plus shipping for the whole unit. It would probably cost me well over $3,000.00 by the time they shipped it to me in the Caribbean and I would have to pay 25% import duty on it (which I wouldn't have to do if it was a warranty replacement part!). And then I guess I'm supposed to just sit and wait for the POS to grenade again?

Apparently, my complaint has gone all the way to the "top people" in Nissan (according to the Dealer) and I should get a final answer today. I love this truck but as soon as its fixed, she's GONE. I don't want to have to go through this again.

BTW: Do you know if it comes with the brake assembly on it? 

Posted: Oct 30 2005 at 11:16pm | IP Logged

people say really smart ass crap when I tell them about my rearend going. sh*t like what did you do to that thing. I've never tow'd or offroaded or loaded it up heavy. when I took it in to get it fixed I got no loaner and they claimed I was burning rubber and attempted to void my warranty. They've since said they'd fix it and its been there for almost a month. Now they'll start it on wednesday unless something else comes up. could you guys possibly fax me your invoices? I could fax mine also when it gets fixed. Maybe when I get a lawyer I could have you guys fax the invoices there? I'm just seriously pissed about this. I'm on Titantalk.com forums and a few jackazzes say smartazz crap on there. I'm sure they havn't had the luxury of their read ends going to know how it feels. I don't feel safe in this truck and probably never will again. I found a TruTrac Limited Slip Differential by Detroit Locker to replace the stock spider/differential. BUT I don't want to spend $1,000 and have that break too. Here is what happened to 4 wheeler magazine is that the pin you're talking about? http://fourwheeler.com/projectbuild/129_0506_titan/ If it's with the open rear diff getting a LSD will solve the problem. If not it'll just break again because the piece they're talking about will come off and ruin my after market limited slip and it'll be screwed again anyway... any input please email me I might not come back here. hawaiianbasshead@yahoo.com thanks,

Tom

Posted: Oct 30 2005 at 11:21pm | IP Logged

oh btw you can also get a dynatrac rear dana60 pro for about $3000 or maybe 2500 you'd have your work cut out for you if you wanted to break that. And it'd definetly outlast its cost in gas lol.

I'm going to call the 4x4 shop who I preordered my limited slip through and get the part number for you guys who're screwed too. If nissan won't cover it it'll be ALOT cheaper to get this. BUT, you may need a new ring and pinion and I'm unsure if you can get one since nissan doesn't sell diff parts? later,

T

also how do I edit my name? I missed the d at the end lol.

Posted: Oct 31 2005 at 8:50am | IP Logged

Hey Hawaiian. I get the same sh!t from even my friends about what they think I did to break the rearend, but I really never gave it any stress at all. It's just a POS because of a small cheap a$$ part that can be easily fixed. The problem is Dana, they been using this roll pin crap for decades apparently. It's like an Achilles Heel kinda thing - everything else is pretty tough but the weakest link is REALLY weak.

BTW: Where did you find the Detriot Trutrac to replace the diff? I know they make them for Dana 44s but we have 32-spline axles, not 30-spline like the standard Dana 44. If you did find one that's a bolt-in, I might be interested in buying one - because I prefer full time limited slip anyways. The other option is to buy the standard 30-spline carrier (dif.) and get some custom axles built to fit that but I don't know how strong it would be (with two less splines). But, then again, axles usually don't shear off the splines - they tend to wring off in the middle.

BTW: The Trutrac is the entire differential carrier, so it would have its own pin (hopefully NOT a split or rollpin) so you don't need to worry about the same problem again. I'm also uncertain as to whether the factory 9" Nissan Crown gear (stock Dana 44s have an 8.5" Crown) can fit the Trutrac carrier (or any aftermarket carrier. (JEGS actually has an Auburn diff unit for Dana 44's for $259.00 - so it might be a relatively cheap fix if it can bolt in). 

It might be something for those few brave souls who wish to try to wipe Nissan's A$$ for them, but for now I want them to fix their own crap. Just think about how many peolple are out there driving on the highways of America (and beyond - like me) who have not a clue that their lives and safety rests with a little crappy $1.00 roll-pin, and Nissan really couldn't care less!!. There has got to be some accountabilty by them at some point. I'd be more than happy to fax whatever invoices I get to you or your lawyer, but for right now I'm hoping that the only invoivce I get has "replaced under warranty" on it!

Posted: Oct 31 2005 at 8:56am | IP Logged

BTW: I also checked out the Dynatrac 66 and they quoted me $2,750.00, but shipping to me (Cayman Islands) would cost a small fortune and they couldn't match the gear ratio of my front axle anyways, so that's not a viable option.

Also, I can't find any company yet that makes an aftermarket set of 3.36:1 gears for the standard Dana 44 so we might be screwed on that deal too!