[updated:LAST EDITED ON 12-Oct-02 AT 03:26 PM (EST)]After towing my 7,000 pound travel trailer from Alaska to Arkasas (~5,200 miles), I noticed my rear differential cover was losing it's paint. Not rock dings on the front, but paint on the back cover was coming off in big flakes.

The local Ford guy repainted it and said it was common. According to him, the rear diff gets hot during long range towing and it will normally flake the paint. Seems odd to me... Does the factory not prep the covers prior to painting? My charcoal grill gets hot, but the paint stays on it!

My truck is a 2001 F-250 crew cab long bed, V-10, auto trans, 4.30 limited slip 4x4. It now has 14,000 miles and tows this trailer like a champ (I'm well below the max weight of 12,500). I always keep the speed below 65 mph when towing just to help on fuel economy.

OBTW, I also have the drive line "cluck" when I accelerate from a dead stop. Ford said that was OK too...

Anyone else seen this? Ideas?

Edmo

 

The factory doesn't put a lot of effort into the paint that's on your rear differential cover.The 92 to 97 models had barely enough paint to cover the metal and in no time rust would start showing.

 

I just purchased a used 2001 f250 with 18k miles on it a couple weeks ago, anyway i looked at about 10 differnt trucks in my search all had between 9000-45,000 miles on them and ALL of them had all the paint gone from the rear diff. cover and rear driveline, including the one i purchased, so i would say it is a very common problem and due to cheap paint and heat,not mixing so well
Rob.

 

My dad has a 99 F-250 SD, same thing happened real quick on ours as well.

 

>OBTW, I also have the drive line "cluck" when I accelerate from a dead stop. Ford said that was OK too...
>
>Anyone else seen this? Ideas?


Edmo,

Remove the chickens from the bed of your truck to get rid of the "cluck."

Uh...sorry...

Search the threads, you'll find your answer. More than likely it could be your slipjoint that needs relubed.

 

Monsta's suggestion is worth looking into .
Along with changing the rear diff fluid ,how many miles on this truck ?
after they lube the slip joint and you still have a clunk ,I would be looking into a problem within the rear diff (backlash ,rear carrier side play,bearings, clutch packs if its an ls unit)

Rich

 

I removed the chickens and it now makes a "clunking" sound. Darn yard birds...

hehehe
Edmo
:P

 

:-staun



Now it seems Monsta is in to barn yard animals??





I know thats illegal, even where Monsta lives!!

 

>
>:-staun
>
>
>
>Now it seems Monsta is in to barn yard animals??
>
>
>
>
>
>I know thats illegal, even where Monsta lives!!
I thought I herd a Baaaht! Baaaaht! sheep ! thats what I herd!!!!!!
man that guy and his cross------ is gonna get him in deep d---- doo
''''

Rich

 

>Now it seems Monsta is in to barn yard animals??
>I know thats illegal, even where Monsta lives!!

Here's the problem with that... YOU'RE the one who thought of that. Why would that thought even come into your head ? Unless?... Oh...I think I'm gonna get ill...

 

>Here's the problem with that... YOU'RE the one who
>thought of that. Why would that thought even come
>into your head ? Unless?... Oh...I think I'm gonna
>get ill...


Well Monsta, as we all know with your SELF ADMITTED cape weairng and cross dressing issues, I figured this might be the next step with someone that has those types of perversions.

Sort of like they say pot is the gateway drug, once you start it leads to harsher substances. :-X23

 

 

I was on dirt rider website and someone had the same problem.
The fix is an aftermarket rear end cover from ultraduty.com It had added capacity, was finned, had a magnet and optional temperature gauge.
The price is pretty steep, which is why I have not invested in one yet. Around $380 if I remember. But if you tow allot it can pay for itself if you fry the rear end.