[Dogman]

2004 Nissan Frontier
XE Crew Cab Pickup 4-Door 4X4
3.3L 3275CC V6 GAS SOHC Naturally Aspirated

The truck was given to me ,it has180.600 miles on it ,and was told it needed a rear end.I have 1300$ into it so far. I took it in to the shop and they said the rear end would cost 2700 + labor cost.. It runs like a top ,there is not scratch or a ding on it. ..(thats sidewall cleaner i just sprayed on the tires) i have 3500$ that i can spend on it... is it worth it?

 

[Lowcountry]

Yes its still worth it. Why do they think its bad? $3500 is likely a rebuild - but you should be able to locate a used one?

Find a junkyard rear diff. Remove / replace. You can find used diff pricing on car-part.com

If its beyond your skill set, find a smaller shop, or maybe someone to do it on the side. Its really not hard.

If you post general area your located a member might know a more reasonable shop.

 

[greenmachine]

100% agree with Lowcountry

 

[Krons]

Definitely worth it with a used rear end. Even better if DIY, even better’er if all it needs is a fluid change. It too be curious if symptoms indicating it needs a new rear end.

 

[RedDR]

Yeah, what are the symptoms you are seeing, actually?

 

[Clint]

Salvage yard, wheel to wheel unit, it can’t cost much to swap it. I’ve done them in the driveway in a couple of hours.

Clint

 

[Hawairish]

You didn't say what the problem was in your Part 1 post nor that it needed replacement. Swapping a rear axle is not a $2700 job by any stretch. Might help if you explain the situation better.

 

[Dogman]

Yes its still worth it. Why do they think its bad? $3500 is likely a rebuild - but you should be able to locate a used one?

Find a junkyard rear diff. Remove / replace. You can find used diff pricing on car-part.com

If its beyond your skill set, find a smaller shop, or maybe someone to do it on the side. Its really not hard.

If you post general area your located a member might know a more reasonable shop.

Yes we(the mechanic and i) are looking for something like that. so far we are just finding used ones that have over 100k on them , the ones on ebay are some ungodly gear ratio.. 5:somethings lol . the rebuild will be 2700 with labor. so it will bring things up to 4-5k$..i can live with that .
zip 95501

 

[Dogman]

You didn't say what the problem was in your Part 1 post nor that it needed replacement. Swapping a rear axle is not a $2700 job by any stretch. Might help if you explain the situation better.

Sorry this stuff is not in my wheel house, the ring and pinon ? is toast the 2700 was for parts and labor.

 

[Dogman]

Sorry this stuff is not in my wheel house, the ring and pinon ? is toast the 2700 was for parts and labor.

not to mention its 3am lol

 

[Dogman]

here is a picture of it ..idk if that helps any, when i seen this for the first time i thought who ever removed the cover had snap the bolts off in the housing.. turned out just to be dirt...

 

[SlamBang6]

I know nothing about this generation, but from what you are saying about its condition I would invest the money in it.

 

[Dogman]

I know nothing about this generation, but from what you are saying about its condition I would invest the money in it.

i feel the same way.. your not going to find anything like that for 4500 5k , i was looking around at ones for sale with well over 100k miles on them going for 7 to 10k. i really dont drive much , so 60 a month for insurance and at 10mpg i will have to down grade my internet and loose some weight. ..i just turned 60 and live by my self.. it will give me something to do. but its not over yet .. i still need a smog.. it had been parked for 3 years up on someones property.they said it had a bad rear and and asked if i wanted it.. had clean paper work and it a very nice looking truck so i jumped on it.. i kinda went about it back words.. i should of had things looked at and explored my options but.. ..did i say it looks really good? lol

 

[Dogman]

Yeah, what are the symptoms you are seeing, actually?

i tried to drive it and went about 3 feet and stopped it .. i was thinking i needed a priest ..not a mechanic .. i never heard sounds like that coming from a automobile before.. a violent loud clunk/thud.. it made the sounds just pushing it in neutral. how anyone drove it to that state.. should be drawn and quartered. That is the best i can give you. .. i was thinking with it making a sound that bad.. $2700 was dodging a bullet..

 

[Hawairish]

Any visible damage on the ring or pinion? Busted teeth won’t screech, but a bad bearing would. Genuinely interested to know what the issue is.

Did the shop at least pull the carrier to inspect? Not sure how they can throw out a number in the thousands and not provide you with a root cause or proof. If the differential internals are failed, those can be replaced easily. Not sure if I mentioned it in your other thread, but I work on these sorts of diffs often.

Also, what’s the ratio? It’ll be stamped on the ring gear as “XX:XX” if you still have eyes on it.

 

[Dogman]

Any visible damage on the ring or pinion? Busted teeth won’t screech, but a bad bearing would. Genuinely interested to know what the issue is.

Did the shop at least pull the carrier to inspect? Not sure how they can throw out a number in the thousands and not provide you with a root cause or proof. If the differential internals are failed, those can be replaced easily. Not sure if I mentioned it in your other thread, but I work on these sorts of diffs often.

Also, what’s the ratio? It’ll be stamped on the ring gear as “XX:XX” if you still have eyes on it.

 

[Dogman]

Well we were able to find a used one , they say its a LSD i hope it fits, that will bring it down to 1500 from 3700$

 

[Hawairish]

That pic doesn’t really show anything beyond sludge.

Found a used what?

 

[Dogman]

Yes its still worth it. Why do they think its bad? $3500 is likely a rebuild - but you should be able to locate a used one?

Find a junkyard rear diff. Remove / replace. You can find used diff pricing on car-part.com

If its beyond your skill set, find a smaller shop, or maybe someone to do it on the side. Its really not hard.

If you post general area your located a member might know a more reasonable shop.

Eureka Ca. 95501

 

[Dogman]

Any visible damage on the ring or pinion? Busted teeth won’t screech, but a bad bearing would. Genuinely interested to know what the issue is.

Did the shop at least pull the carrier to inspect? Not sure how they can throw out a number in the thousands and not provide you with a root cause or proof. If the differential internals are failed, those can be replaced easily. Not sure if I mentioned it in your other thread, but I work on these sorts of diffs often.

Also, what’s the ratio? It’ll be stamped on the ring gear as “XX:XX” if you still have eyes on it.

They are jacking me around, no i dont think they have looked at it , they said they found a used one then 5 days later said it was a LS ver and wouldent work, and that they will keep looking .. a week when by and i called them .. they said they found "the parts" and it will only cost 1500, another week goes by they said there 2 guys down so it will be another week. week goes by .. i call ( i asked them to please update me aka call me?) they said they were sent a transmission and not a rear end... im thinking they sure shipping things around it must be costing them a bit..so they have had it for over a month now and still no time, they said another week. When i dropped the truck off i asked if they need me to help find the parts. they said "oh no i only get parts from people i know" and assured me he would track it down. i paid the 1500 already so im pretty much committed with these guys. its very disappointing to say the least. i been combing the junk yards with in 500 mils. of me and i cant find anything. not even on ebay.