I realize I'm asking for an opinion, but I thought I'd see if there was a consensus. I have a 2001 2500HD 4x4 with the 8.1-liter engine with 158,000 miles. Much of that mileage was towing our 30ft 5th wheel over the years as the gas mileage is too atrocious to use as a daily driver. My local shop has been working on the truck for 10 years and hasn't ever given me reason to question the service. Other than routine maintenance I've had very few issues with the truck.
My concern is that there was a failure of the pinion bearings less than 2,000 miles after my local shop replaced the pinion shaft seal and performed a full rear diff service. Included on their work order was "Inspect internals and reassemble with a new gasket." We were 500 miles from home when the rear diff failed, and I had forgotten about the prior rear diff service (it had been 5 months since the pinion shaft seal replacement - the truck doesn't do much towing in the winter and early spring). The rear differential shop that installed a GM 11.5 Bearing Kit noted on their repair order "Looks like someone replaced the pinion seal, overtightened preload on bearings. Rough pinion bearings and metal in housing."
Again, I had forgotten about the prior pinion seal replacement, so I didn't think much about the repair shop's comment on the repair order. I honestly assumed it was from work performed years ago before I began working with the current local mechanic.
When I got home and pulled the prior repair orders, I noticed the rear diff service that had been performed in November. I discussed my concerns with the local mechanic, that being was it reasonable that the rear diff failed less than 2,000 miles after the pinion seal replacement and service, and their response was that the failure was just coincidental and due to the mileage on the truck. They had a very descriptive and reasonable explanation of their procedure for replacing the pinion seal and that it was unlikely they did anything that contributed to the failure.
I'll never be able to prove the nexus of the failure. I'm just curious if others here think it is possible that the failure was coincidental (due to the mileage on the truck), or if the failure after less than 2,000 miles from the prior rear diff service was likely caused by faulty work when the pinion shaft seal was replaced. Good auto repair shops are difficult to find, and I'd hate to jump ship unless it was clear my local shop likely contributed to this problem. Obviously, my confidence has been shaken.
My concern is that there was a failure of the pinion bearings less than 2,000 miles after my local shop replaced the pinion shaft seal and performed a full rear diff service. Included on their work order was "Inspect internals and reassemble with a new gasket." We were 500 miles from home when the rear diff failed, and I had forgotten about the prior rear diff service (it had been 5 months since the pinion shaft seal replacement - the truck doesn't do much towing in the winter and early spring). The rear differential shop that installed a GM 11.5 Bearing Kit noted on their repair order "Looks like someone replaced the pinion seal, overtightened preload on bearings. Rough pinion bearings and metal in housing."
Again, I had forgotten about the prior pinion seal replacement, so I didn't think much about the repair shop's comment on the repair order. I honestly assumed it was from work performed years ago before I began working with the current local mechanic.
When I got home and pulled the prior repair orders, I noticed the rear diff service that had been performed in November. I discussed my concerns with the local mechanic, that being was it reasonable that the rear diff failed less than 2,000 miles after the pinion seal replacement and service, and their response was that the failure was just coincidental and due to the mileage on the truck. They had a very descriptive and reasonable explanation of their procedure for replacing the pinion seal and that it was unlikely they did anything that contributed to the failure.
I'll never be able to prove the nexus of the failure. I'm just curious if others here think it is possible that the failure was coincidental (due to the mileage on the truck), or if the failure after less than 2,000 miles from the prior rear diff service was likely caused by faulty work when the pinion shaft seal was replaced. Good auto repair shops are difficult to find, and I'd hate to jump ship unless it was clear my local shop likely contributed to this problem. Obviously, my confidence has been shaken.
