Rear Differential

[Cali_z71]

Newbie Here...

Just dropped off our '05 Tahoe z71 for a possible leak in the rear differential. Dealer called and found Front Axel leak, Oil pan leak and the rear to be leaking. We have the extended warranty so all but $100 deductible is covered. He recommended we change the oil out in the rear and because it's synthetic, it would be an additional $150. Is this necessary and the price (from the dealer) about right? Sometimes I think our "Podunk Town" local dealer charges too much. Is the oil that expensive and /or is the charge mostly labor? :confused2::confused2:

BTW-We have never had the oil changed in the rear, we tow a boat and the mileage is 50k. If this makes a difference.

 

[boostaholic]

$150 for 3 quarts of gear oil? Go buy 3 bottles of 75/90 royal purple and drop it off with the truck, might want to make sure they use it too.

 

[matt14]

Newbie Here...

Just dropped off our '05 Tahoe z71 for a possible leak in the rear differential. Dealer called and found Front Axel leak, Oil pan leak and the rear to be leaking. We have the extended warranty so all but $100 deductible is covered. He recommended we change the oil out in the rear and because it's synthetic, it would be an additional $150. Is this necessary and the price (from the dealer) about right? Sometimes I think our "Podunk Town" local dealer charges too much. Is the oil that expensive and /or is the charge mostly labor? :confused2::confused2:

BTW-We have never had the oil changed in the rear, we tow a boat and the mileage is 50k. If this makes a difference.

Did you say that they found a leak in the rear diff? if so what was leaking?. if they had to pull the pan, they will need to repalce the fluid anyways. if they are replacing say a pinion seal where only some of the fluid may come out, then they may not be able to claim the oil on the extended warrenty. also where are you from in nor cal? i know our hourly rate is high in berkeley and in the california, the rate is higher. i say find out what they are perfoming, and like boost said, just drop off the fluid and ask to have it installed. they are still going to charge you labor to install the fluid.

 

[Cali_z71]

It's just a leak (pinion seal?) but from the looks of it there are particles in the oil. The rear has been "buried" a few times in water at the lake so I'm sure it could use a replacing. I'm located in Hollister (30 min north of Monterey). Found out that labor is almost $60 and the oil around $30/quart. Called 2 other dealers and they quoted the same price. For kicks, I called a local shop, and they quoted me $34.99. What??? I asked if he was quoting me for synthetic oil and he said, "no, it's a thicker oil. we don't put that in." OK, that's just scary.
Suppose it's better than having to dish out $1500 for a new rear end, later down the road.

 

[Turbizzy]

Here's my opinion and I used to be a Chevy Tech, $150 for a read diff service is a pretty fair price. Yes its synthetic oil and all but we always recommended servicing the rear end every 30k miles on major services. ESPECIALLY if your towing a boat, we used to recommend a rear diff service on the first 15k miles to replace the break in oil. Your going to get the most wear out of your ring and pinion the first few thousand miles especially if towing.

The thing about bringing your own fluid is, while it may very well be synthetic and compatible, if you have them do the work then they cannot warranty their work fully. What this means is in the even that your rear end goes out, and your under power train warranty or even the 12mo/12k mile warranty they can deny your warranty on it since you brought in your own fluid and didn't use theirs. Im sure you can fight it with an attorney or something but in the end is it realy worth the hassle?

Here's my math

$150 total parts and labor
We used to charge 1 hour to remove the rear cover, clean the gasket off, inspect the ring and pinion wear, inspect the G80 weights and teeth, topp off with new fluid and gasket and roadtest it.
3 quarts of sythetic GL-5 dealer price about $40
Gasket $10
Labor $100

Thats a deal IMO.

 

[Turbizzy]

$150 for 3 quarts of gear oil? Go buy 3 bottles of 75/90 royal purple and drop it off with the truck, might want to make sure they use it too.

If I remember right wasn't it 75-140W GL5 synthetic?

 

[Cali_z71]

Here's my opinion and I used to be a Chevy Tech, $150 for a read diff service is a pretty fair price.
Thats a deal IMO.

Called around to other Chevy dealers and got the same quote. It has been repaired and I, too, feel the same about "warranting" the work based on bringing in my own oil.

I'm just glad (knock on wood) that after 3 years of ownership, numerous trips to the lake & trips to the snow, commuting 80 miles a day (50k miles on it) and being our main sort of transportation (besides an '96 Chevy P/U)...this is the first major work done to the Tahoe. Front end, oil pan and rear...all under warranty (minus the deductible & oil change). We've never had any problem other than that.

I love my Tahoe! :thumbsup:

 

[boostaholic]

We charge $150 for the front and rear diffs with tcase for standard lubricants, royal purple gets up around $200.

 

[Turbizzy]

We charge $150 for the front and rear diffs with tcase for standard lubricants, royal purple gets up around $200.

See yeah thats not too bad. Is this the same price if the rear end has a drain plug or not? Cuz if not then you gotta pull the pan off. If it had a drain plug i can see people just draining and fillin like we do Nissans. Front diff is cake, just drain and fill and occasional leaking axle seals which suck. Tcase is cake but i know the gear trax can be expensive.

Of course for fluid most gm dealers use Mobil synthetic gear oil so i don't really see the need for Royally expensive purple.

 

[boostaholic]

Yeah it's the same even if we pull covers, I like the purple stuff and it's only $7/qt my cost.