Member Since: 10 Aug 2015
Location: Gods' Own Country
Posts: 280
Rear diff' issues - freakin' MDs
I'll try and keep this short 👍
When I bought my 90HT it came with all sorts of paperwork including invoices showing a new engine had been fitted under warranty (oil pump failure) and a rear diff had been fitted - again under warranty.
The dealer that did the work was the one I've vowed never to trust again having bought a vehicle off them with bad results. I've already had issues with the engine due to the wiring loom being routed badly and tearing a wire out of a multiplug. Not to mention a burst rad hose due to the hose clips being poorly aligned.
Anyway, the rear diff'!!
Driving home yesterday there was a weird squeal followed by a continuous "dub, dub, dub" which was speed related but too slow to be gearbox / t'ferbox. So, tonight I went on a hunt and after a series of half shafts out tests I narrowed it down to the rear diff' and promptly whipped it out (ooo er mrs 😀). Checking it all out and possibly lookng for something to major I couldn't really see anything amiss. Eventually I reached in and put my hand into the diff' casing
Click image to enlarge
This bolt head was lying in the bottom. How could I have missed a bolt missing when inspecting the diff'? I checked again but all the crown wheel bolts were still there. Then I noticed the head pattern -
Click image to enlarge
It was different to that of the bolt used in the current diff'.
Click image to enlarge
Side by side they are distinctively different.
Eventually I see very minor damage to the end of a tooth on the crown wheel - most likely caused by this bolt head being picked up and spun around. I cleaned the damage up but as we all know tooth damage is very hard to repair to a satisfactory level. Therefore a new crown wheel and pinion are in order so I may as well bite the bullet and whack an Ashcroft ATB in at the same as it's being on my wish list for some time.
However, the question remains, how the feck did it get in there? Well the only possible answer is when the LR MD previously replaced the diff' they left this bolt head in there (quite a known common failure the bots shearing).
I've long considered them to be completely fettless and the sales manager is nothing short of a Dick Turpin impressionist but this really takes them to a new low.
Today's lesson - just because they're expensive doesn't mean they're any good Avoid main deallers like the plague and only trust the little man without the shiny showroom and receptionist to hide behind. From now on ALL maintenance is to be done by me.
Rant over - thanks for staying with me
14th Sep 2016 6:40pm
Disco_Mikey
Member Since: 16 Nov 2014
Location: Dundee
Posts: 531
Having worked inside a main dealer, I know exactly what goes on
I'm fortunate enough to be in a position of being self employed and fixing them myself now
And if I wasn't, I still wouldn't go to a main dealer
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Avoid main deallers like the plague and only trust the little man without the shiny showroom and receptionist to hide behind. From now on ALL maintenance is to be done by me.
14th Sep 2016 6:56pm
