Need Axle Guru's.. Please Help!
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 540
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From: North Florida
I don't mind at all.
A new steel shaft that is 4 inches diameter with thicker walls and 1410 joints would have cost me about $450. The owner (Brent) said he wouldn't even make me another 3.5 inch shaft like the factory. He said that the length was way too much for the thin wall tubing used by Ford for this application (heavy truck and towing).
The aluminum shaft that I ordered ended up being about $640. He only charged me $40 to ship it even though it was an "oversized" package according to UPS. So for less than $700, I have what I hope to be a great new driveshaft coming tomorrow.
Here is the good part about Brent... he told me that if I put it in and drive for 10 minutes or even drive for a month and decide I don't like the aluminum shaft for any reason, he will send me a return shipping label along with the steel shaft plus a refund for the difference in price as long as I promise to return the aluminum one to him.
He is THAT sure that I will love how smooth the aluminum shaft is compared to the steel.
I think that is pretty honest.
James
A new steel shaft that is 4 inches diameter with thicker walls and 1410 joints would have cost me about $450. The owner (Brent) said he wouldn't even make me another 3.5 inch shaft like the factory. He said that the length was way too much for the thin wall tubing used by Ford for this application (heavy truck and towing).
The aluminum shaft that I ordered ended up being about $640. He only charged me $40 to ship it even though it was an "oversized" package according to UPS. So for less than $700, I have what I hope to be a great new driveshaft coming tomorrow.
Here is the good part about Brent... he told me that if I put it in and drive for 10 minutes or even drive for a month and decide I don't like the aluminum shaft for any reason, he will send me a return shipping label along with the steel shaft plus a refund for the difference in price as long as I promise to return the aluminum one to him.
He is THAT sure that I will love how smooth the aluminum shaft is compared to the steel.I think that is pretty honest.
James
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 540
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From: North Florida
UPDATE
New driveshaft arrived. Looks beautiful.
I installed it this morning. It fit perfectly...
Went for a test drive.
OH MY!! What a difference. I cannot believe the vibrations and humming I have been putting up with for the last year or so. It is completely smooth and silent now!
Best money I've spent on a vehicle since I bought a lift kit for my first truck! It really is amazing the night and day difference from the skinny, steel shaft that was in there before. Plus it weighs quite a bit less according to my "lift with my hands meter".
Now I just have to address the whining from the new gears (which you CAN hear now for sure) with the shop owner. Maybe by next month I'll have a strong, completely silent, 4.56 geared driveline. Hoping.....
Thank you all again.
James
I installed it this morning. It fit perfectly...
Went for a test drive.
OH MY!! What a difference. I cannot believe the vibrations and humming I have been putting up with for the last year or so. It is completely smooth and silent now!
Best money I've spent on a vehicle since I bought a lift kit for my first truck! It really is amazing the night and day difference from the skinny, steel shaft that was in there before. Plus it weighs quite a bit less according to my "lift with my hands meter".
Now I just have to address the whining from the new gears (which you CAN hear now for sure) with the shop owner. Maybe by next month I'll have a strong, completely silent, 4.56 geared driveline. Hoping.....
Thank you all again.
James
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
New driveshaft arrived. Looks beautiful.
I installed it this morning. It fit perfectly...
Went for a test drive.
OH MY!! What a difference. I cannot believe the vibrations and humming I have been putting up with for the last year or so. It is completely smooth and silent now!
Best money I've spent on a vehicle since I bought a lift kit for my first truck! It really is amazing the night and day difference from the skinny, steel shaft that was in there before. Plus it weighs quite a bit less according to my "lift with my hands meter".
Now I just have to address the whining from the new gears (which you CAN hear now for sure) with the shop owner. Maybe by next month I'll have a strong, completely silent, 4.56 geared driveline. Hoping.....
Thank you all again.
James
I installed it this morning. It fit perfectly...
Went for a test drive.
OH MY!! What a difference. I cannot believe the vibrations and humming I have been putting up with for the last year or so. It is completely smooth and silent now!
Best money I've spent on a vehicle since I bought a lift kit for my first truck! It really is amazing the night and day difference from the skinny, steel shaft that was in there before. Plus it weighs quite a bit less according to my "lift with my hands meter".
Now I just have to address the whining from the new gears (which you CAN hear now for sure) with the shop owner. Maybe by next month I'll have a strong, completely silent, 4.56 geared driveline. Hoping.....
Thank you all again.
James
"those are hardened gears for thrashing offroad and for heavy towing, plus the teeth are cut different, they are gonna have more noise than the OEM's that came out of it. There isn't anything we can do".
I almost laugh when I read it and it's ALL a bunch of bull. Was there anything on the invoice that said; "they are gonna have more noise" ?
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 540
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From: North Florida
Bring a witness, and don't forget what they said at first;
"those are hardened gears for thrashing offroad and for heavy towing, plus the teeth are cut different, they are gonna have more noise than the OEM's that came out of it. There isn't anything we can do".
I almost laugh when I read it and it's ALL a bunch of bull. Was there anything on the invoice that said; "they are gonna have more noise" ?
"those are hardened gears for thrashing offroad and for heavy towing, plus the teeth are cut different, they are gonna have more noise than the OEM's that came out of it. There isn't anything we can do".
I almost laugh when I read it and it's ALL a bunch of bull. Was there anything on the invoice that said; "they are gonna have more noise" ?
"Replace ring and pinion and associated bearings and races. Per customer - replace outer bearings and races. Refill axle with Royal Purple."
That is it brother... I know, I know.... SHOULD have gone to a big national chain that I could hold to the fire for issues just like this. Too late now, I'm in it.
We'll see what he says next week when we drive again.
James
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
Big chains aren't always the answer. I went to a Midas shop to have a cheap muffler quickly installed and they had a sheet with all the things I might need and they spent a long time trying to sell me things I didn't need and then wanted me to sign it saying I didn't want anything. I said "I'm going to lunch and I just want this muffler replaced, can you do that?" When I came back they said they hadn't done anything because I didn't sign their sheet.............never again.
Keep all your papers, you might need them for small claims.
Keep all your papers, you might need them for small claims.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,450
Likes: 13
From: Forest lake minnesota
Big chains aren't always the answer. I went to a Midas shop to have a cheap muffler quickly installed and they had a sheet with all the things I might need and they spent a long time trying to sell me things I didn't need and then wanted me to sign it saying I didn't want anything. I said "I'm going to lunch and I just want this muffler replaced, can you do that?" When I came back they said they hadn't done anything because I didn't sign their sheet.............never again.
Keep all your papers, you might need them for small claims.
Keep all your papers, you might need them for small claims.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 540
Likes: 0
From: North Florida
Even though I have the whine problem, it pulls like a locomotive! 2300 rpm at 65 mph over hill and dale without EVER leaving OD while pulling 6000 lbs+. I absolutely love the way the Ex performs with these gears.
Fuel consumption went up just a "bit" when unloaded on highway... lost about 1 mpg there. As for around town, I'm getting about 1 mpg better... so it's a trade-off basically.
For the first time since I've owned it... I am able to go out into our field (dry grass) and get on it from a dead stop and throw two big rooster tails behind me while fish-tailing around doing donuts.... it couldn't do it before. So I am very happy indeed.
James
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 540
Likes: 0
From: North Florida
ANOTHER UPDATE
I'm sure this old thread doesn't get read much anymore, but I will continue to finish it out. I know there are countless threads that never get to the "end" of someone's problem... therefore no one ever knows what the answer was.
So... today I took the shop owner for a ride to hear the whine. I saw the pain on his face as the noise began at 40 mph and got louder up to 50 mph... I don't think he wanted this.
I let him drive so he could tell if it was on the drive or coast side of the gears. He said definitely on the coast side. He said he couldn't figure it out though. Said the pattern was absolutely perfect on the drive side and typically if it is perfect on the drive side, the coast side is perfect also.
Anyway, he is going to warranty the gear set and said he wouldn't charge me any labor to do it again with the new set.
Supposed to go in late this week or beginning of next. I'm sure hoping this was a fluke and the next set is quiet!
I will let those who are following this debacle know how it turns out.
James
So... today I took the shop owner for a ride to hear the whine. I saw the pain on his face as the noise began at 40 mph and got louder up to 50 mph... I don't think he wanted this.
I let him drive so he could tell if it was on the drive or coast side of the gears. He said definitely on the coast side. He said he couldn't figure it out though. Said the pattern was absolutely perfect on the drive side and typically if it is perfect on the drive side, the coast side is perfect also.
Anyway, he is going to warranty the gear set and said he wouldn't charge me any labor to do it again with the new set.
Supposed to go in late this week or beginning of next. I'm sure hoping this was a fluke and the next set is quiet!
I will let those who are following this debacle know how it turns out.
James
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 540
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From: North Florida
LOL... I SHOULD have just let the pinion seal drip! There is merit to the saying "let sleeping dogs lay"....
Next time I have a problem with the driveline (which I shouldn't since it will all be new now) I'm just going to drive it till it explodes I guess.James
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 540
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From: North Florida
Also, thank you for letting me know that it is not the G2 gear set at fault.
James
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11,798
Likes: 14
From: Mt. Shasta California
I'm sure this old thread doesn't get read much anymore, but I will continue to finish it out. I know there are countless threads that never get to the "end" of someone's problem... therefore no one ever knows what the answer was.
So... today I took the shop owner for a ride to hear the whine. I saw the pain on his face as the noise began at 40 mph and got louder up to 50 mph... I don't think he wanted this.
I let him drive so he could tell if it was on the drive or coast side of the gears. He said definitely on the coast side. He said he couldn't figure it out though. Said the pattern was absolutely perfect on the drive side and typically if it is perfect on the drive side, the coast side is perfect also.
Anyway, he is going to warranty the gear set and said he wouldn't charge me any labor to do it again with the new set.
Supposed to go in late this week or beginning of next. I'm sure hoping this was a fluke and the next set is quiet!
I will let those who are following this debacle know how it turns out.
James
So... today I took the shop owner for a ride to hear the whine. I saw the pain on his face as the noise began at 40 mph and got louder up to 50 mph... I don't think he wanted this.
I let him drive so he could tell if it was on the drive or coast side of the gears. He said definitely on the coast side. He said he couldn't figure it out though. Said the pattern was absolutely perfect on the drive side and typically if it is perfect on the drive side, the coast side is perfect also.
Anyway, he is going to warranty the gear set and said he wouldn't charge me any labor to do it again with the new set.
Supposed to go in late this week or beginning of next. I'm sure hoping this was a fluke and the next set is quiet!
I will let those who are following this debacle know how it turns out.
James
Don't give them a penny! Ask him if you can have the "bad" gearset.
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 540
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From: North Florida
He didn't need to drive it, he saw the whole thing. Typically doesn't cut it, if the backlash is too great it will whine on the decel because there is too much slop in it so the backside won't match up, and he should know that but he took a chance on it and lost. Correcting the decel problem involves shimming the pinion bearing which is more work. They probably wasted a new gearset but maybe they will just correct the same one........the right way.
Don't give them a penny! Ask him if you can have the "bad" gearset.
Don't give them a penny! Ask him if you can have the "bad" gearset.
I agree with you that there is most probably some laziness on the installer's part going on here. He probably got everything "close" and called it good because he wasn't about to pull everything out again to re-shim.
He rolled the dice. Now we have both lost... Maybe he can do it right this time. If not, I have another plan in the works already. But I'll wait and see how this pans out first.
James
He is not going to charge me anything to fix this.