Well I am having my first real problem with the 06.

Had a loud snapping and popping in what sounded like the left front so I took it out to my cousin who is a professional mechanic. It was about 10,000 miles past due for its 100,000 mi maintenance anyway so I had him change all the fluids and put new plugs in it.

He could not reproduce the noise of course, but when he drained the fluid for the front diff there was a lot of metal in the gear lube and the plug was covered with shavings. After talking to his driveline expert and describing the noise and shavings his friend determined that it was the carrier bearing going bad which is allowing the ring gear to walk out and make the loud noises as it slips off the pinion. It is a nasty noise when it does it, but very inconsistent. The guys who works exclusively on running gear says it is a common problem.

So this weekend my cousin and I are going to take out the front diff and have the suspension guy repair it.

Just wanted to document problem for any of you other guys who might run across it.

Well I got it out.



I though it was going to be pretty simple, but it wouldn't come down after it was all unbolted and I had to take off the bar that the tie rods attach to and remove it completely.

It feels good to work on something.

Now just have to get it to the guy to replace the carrier bearings.