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View Full Version : Spun Race & Trashed Pinion on 11.5" HD Rear End



DeepVee
09-29-2004, 07:31
I started hearing a noise from the rear of my 2001 HD with 43,000 miles about a month ago. I originally thought it was tire noise since I'm still on the original Firestones. I rotated the tires which did not help. I then put the truck up on jackstands and ran it up to 50-MPH. It was then that I realized the noise was from the rear end itself. I suspected a bad bearing in the pinion or one of the floaters.

I took the truck in Monday under my GMPP warranty. They tore it apart and found a spun race on the manin carrier and trashed bearings on the pinion. They originally thought the pinion was bent but now it looks as though the balancer on the front of the pinion is tweaked, the two pieces are not concentric. I broke this rear end in as GM states in the manual, no towing for 500 miles and change fluid after 500 miles of towing. I also made sure I refilled with the high dollar GM fluid. I did everything according to the book and the damn thing broke. I pull 5,000-6,000 lbs about 4 times a year and the rear end has never been struck by any object. I should know today if GM will step up and cover this failure.

Chris N5CWM
09-29-2004, 07:54
Thankfully you followed the GM recommended service intervals. Was the work performed by your dealer? If so then it should be covered 100% under warranty. Even if you did the service yourself and have receipts to prove it they will likely cover it.

As for why it failed, our trucks are machines. Machines are built by people. People make mistakes. It's possible that the person making your bearings, pinion, etc. didn't set up his lathe clearances correctly and the parts (a bunch of them) were/are out of spec. Or the assembler at AAM that put your axle together didn't do their job correctly. Who knows. Good luck getting it sorted out!

DeepVee
10-01-2004, 11:53
Got the word Wednesday, New Rear Axle on the way courtesy of GM. smile.gif

Still no reason for the failure. Turns out the pinion and bearings were fine, just the spun race on the driver's side.