Hyperlite

I have asked around about problems with my front diff and got good responses but none have corrected my problem. A month ago I recived a diff from Randy's and had a huge problem with wrong diffs being sent to incorrect, double charges, months of waiting on parts, piss poor customer service, bla bla and etc.The Whole Story
I contacted Randy's and they think after all this that the put the wrong gearset in the diff. Now befor they will tell me any more they need me to take the diff out and count the teeth. This is crazy why can't they just tell me what is on the service slip. I reckon I have nothing better to do this weekend but lay on the cold garage concrete.


My big question now is what damage could have been caused by this major screw up. I have been driving for a month, it is an 7.5 "taco shell" differential with ADD and it is the same for Tacomas and 4Runners. I rarely put it 4wd except on mud/dirt and quickly turned it off. There are very loud POPS and Clicks and violent jerking and it must be put in reverse to disengage 4wd. My main concerns are :
--transfer case
--output shaft
--actulator
--inner drive axle splines
--transmission
the whole diff is sold together due to no 3rd member so that stuff should be on them

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Sounds like it might be time to lawyer up and sue that gear "halo" off Randy's shiny head! Obvious gross incompetence is inexcusable.

SUCKS!!!

Dr. Zhivago

Different gear ratios in the front and rear diffs are REALLY bad! The transfer case can't spin the output shafts at two different speeds and that was the cause of the loud pops and other unpleasant noises because it was trying to do just that.

Lawyering up would be a good thing to do if they aren't willing to make right by you and buy the necessary parts, AND pay for the shipment thereof, AND pay for the labor to install said parts. This isn't limited to the front differential, mind you.

I remember your story and I'm sorry I EVER recommended RR&P to anyone.

Let us know how it goes.
G

85runner

Instead of pulling the third, put the truck on jackstands and turn the driveshaft. If you have 4.10's, the driveshaft will turn 4.1 times for every one rotation of the tire.

Fahrenheit 451

The only time its a good idea to have different gears in the front and rear is if you are a straight line mud bog racer. I hope things work out for you. As has already been said, different gears in the front and rear means the whole time the front and rear are fighting against each other and trying to trying to move at different speeds and equally trying to rip anything inbetween into little bits.

TDiddy

Wow, that really sucks. Good luck getting a resolution. I wouldn't wait too long before getting a legal consultation.

customcruiser

nice job RANDY............. just finished pullin apart -- Ring=43, Pinion=11

Gear Ratio=3.91

Hyperlite

I talked to Dan at Randy's and he told me that they messed up big time, unfortunently he is only a salesman. He also told me "huh, that's weird Toyota doesn't even make a 3.91 gear set" I need to talk to customer service in the morning cause I got them 5 min before time to go. Customer Service gets in at 8 so I be calling at 7:30.
I gonna tell them to
--Overnight a new diff
--2 new axle seals ($50)
--set up apointment at stealership for drive line inspection
--labor (don't know how to figure?????)
What else do you guys think I should say to Randy's?

To keep this thread on topic what are the potential problems down the road?
What could it do to tranny? Put unneaded stress on drive axles? ($500 newfeilds) What will break or be weakend that I'll find in another month?

----I drove like this for 2 months----
I still have diff fluid in my hair :pat:

TDiddy

Ummm.....yes they do make a 3.91 gear set. You should tell them that when they make the appointment at the dealership of your choice, that they should ask the dealership to bill them DIRECTLY.

Hyperlite

Ok talked to Pam and got new diff being built and sent 2nd day air be here Monday. They said I'll get new seals and I asked about letting the stealership check my tranny and they don't want to do that.
"this is a service claim and in this industry these claims are not paid"
They claimed no damage can happen with different gearsets, I told her what I know and she said "well these guys are the experts and they would know better than me" (obviously not) I kept telling her about the action of the diff on the road and how that can cause future transfer case problems untill she let me speak to the head supervisor. I told him I drove a couple miles like this cause it wouldn't disengage only when I put in reverse. He said "4wd vehicles need to be put in reverse to disengage 4wd" Now that was the dumbest thing I have ever heard from the head supervisor. I quickly corrected him on this. They are building the new diff and finally writing down my correct address and are gonna get back to me on my service issues later today

Randy's=

mt_goat

If you only put it in 4wd on dirt or mud you are probaby ok. But document, as much as possible, everything that happened so that if there is a problem down the road you could seek the courts help to resolve the issue. Ask an attorney for a free consultation.

Hyperlite

well it was driven about 3 miles on the road since 4wd wouldnt disengage the first time it was used

TDiddy

Holy crap. Time to call a lawyer.

mt_goat

3 miles on dry pavement? Ouch! I had a gearing mix up myself once but it was my own fault. The first test drive I went to 4wd, I was going about 5-10 mph on dry pavement, it was like someone hit the brakes. I stopped fast and took it out of 4wd and never heard more than just a clunk when it went back to 2wd. I only drove about 10 feet in 4wd though, I knew right away what had happened.

Get a Toyota dealer's opinion on the situation in writing if possible. Get Randy's response in writing too. Make notes about everything, especially your calls and attemps to get Randy to resolve the issue. The court likes to see that you made lots of attemps to resolve the issue yourself and are not just sue happy. You also must document that you have damages, this my be the hardest part for you unless the Toyota dealer finds something concrete. Good luck

Oh yeah, logicistics may be a problem too, if you live in NC and Randy's is in the State of Washington you might have to go there to sue them. I might be wrong on this it has been awhile since I took a business law class in college. I did stay in a Holiday Inn once though.