SnowDrifter
Full Access Member
Had some folks asking me. So I figured I'd share
Buying: Easy, straight forward. Sent in vin, they build the unit, I got it a week and a half after I placed the phone call. It was pricey though at $1200.
Install: Standard front diff stuff. It comes as a complete unit with output shafts installed. Drop in, fill, and go.
In use: The diff sounded chewy going out of the driveway. Sent an email, never got a response back. OK I'll just run it through break in and see if the sound goes away. Never happened. Figured I'd run it through the winter and deal with it after. I had to do an oil change during mid-winter, at which point I saw the right output shaft seal was pissing. The timeline for this was ~2500 miles. Topped it up and continued driving. When under the vehicle, I also noticed that all three bushings were cracking. The thing wasn't cheap. For that much money, I was expecting a unit built w/ a new gear set, premium parts, and good quality control. I'm rather irritated with it at this point.
4k miles on the diff now, winter fading out: Called them about it, they said we can deal with the leak, but for the noise, they asked if my front wheel bearings were original. I said yes (140k miles). They mentioned the noise is caused by the front wheel bearings and not the diff. I say they're fine. They say they don't know that. We go back and forth until they put their foot down and say they can't warranty it for noise until the wheel bearings are replaced.
OK. Replace the wheel bearings. Wish I had more of a heads up on this one. Had to pay out the ass for parts store markup, $200 a pop for a $105 part on amazon. Blech. Noise still there. So after spending $400 for the privilege of saying I told you so, they have another unit sent out and at my door step in a couple days. This one arrived in the shipping tub covered in gear oil. Looks like the shipping container wasn't cleaned out prior to pack+ship. Interior of the diff was dry, so I don't believe they sent a used one.
Dropped the old one out, pulled the breather/inspection cover off. The ring gear was scored to hell. Not sure if it was a used one or a bad-new one but nonetheless, it slipped past q/c. Bear in mind this company advertises they don't reuse the ring and pinion - it should be all new.
Put the new one in, it's quiet as it should be. 525 miles on it, no issues as of yet. Will update this thread periodically regardless.
So.. uhh.. yeah. That's all I have to say at this point. I don't believe in making recommendations for or against a company when I write stuff like this. I'm just sharing my experience. Research and make your own decisions
Keywords for the lost souls on google:
Powertrain power train products differential review use reliability tahoe 2008 gmt800 noise leak bad removal installation
Buying: Easy, straight forward. Sent in vin, they build the unit, I got it a week and a half after I placed the phone call. It was pricey though at $1200.
Install: Standard front diff stuff. It comes as a complete unit with output shafts installed. Drop in, fill, and go.
In use: The diff sounded chewy going out of the driveway. Sent an email, never got a response back. OK I'll just run it through break in and see if the sound goes away. Never happened. Figured I'd run it through the winter and deal with it after. I had to do an oil change during mid-winter, at which point I saw the right output shaft seal was pissing. The timeline for this was ~2500 miles. Topped it up and continued driving. When under the vehicle, I also noticed that all three bushings were cracking. The thing wasn't cheap. For that much money, I was expecting a unit built w/ a new gear set, premium parts, and good quality control. I'm rather irritated with it at this point.
4k miles on the diff now, winter fading out: Called them about it, they said we can deal with the leak, but for the noise, they asked if my front wheel bearings were original. I said yes (140k miles). They mentioned the noise is caused by the front wheel bearings and not the diff. I say they're fine. They say they don't know that. We go back and forth until they put their foot down and say they can't warranty it for noise until the wheel bearings are replaced.
OK. Replace the wheel bearings. Wish I had more of a heads up on this one. Had to pay out the ass for parts store markup, $200 a pop for a $105 part on amazon. Blech. Noise still there. So after spending $400 for the privilege of saying I told you so, they have another unit sent out and at my door step in a couple days. This one arrived in the shipping tub covered in gear oil. Looks like the shipping container wasn't cleaned out prior to pack+ship. Interior of the diff was dry, so I don't believe they sent a used one.
Dropped the old one out, pulled the breather/inspection cover off. The ring gear was scored to hell. Not sure if it was a used one or a bad-new one but nonetheless, it slipped past q/c. Bear in mind this company advertises they don't reuse the ring and pinion - it should be all new.
Put the new one in, it's quiet as it should be. 525 miles on it, no issues as of yet. Will update this thread periodically regardless.
So.. uhh.. yeah. That's all I have to say at this point. I don't believe in making recommendations for or against a company when I write stuff like this. I'm just sharing my experience. Research and make your own decisions
Keywords for the lost souls on google:
Powertrain power train products differential review use reliability tahoe 2008 gmt800 noise leak bad removal installation
Last edited:
