I had my differential replaced recently. Immediately upon getting my car back, I noticed it driving different but couldn't really put my finger on it. Don't drive it every day, so it was almost two weeks before I called the shop to complain. It was six weeks before I brought it in (about 1500 miles) for essentially the same reason--hard to explain or feel, but I knew my car and could feel it. They look it over, say all is well, send me out door again. All was not well. Over time, it got worse enough that I finally brought it in again and they finally found the problem--torque tube. They said they were lucky, they didn't have to "open" it and could see the damage without doing that (and maybe that there were some rubber/plastic pieces (?) on each side and this was what was coming apart. I don't recall exact wording, but do recall they didn't have to open it up to find the damage.

Here's my question--could they have damaged it? It seems so insanely coincidental on timing. This car went over 60k miles no problems then in same 1500 miles (really, less, I felt it immediately after differential servicing) I have two major failures in drive train. Seems too much.

They claim they don't touch the torque tube to replace the differential. That it runs from engine to transmission. The service guy out front isn't sure if they remove the transmission to replace a differential, but said he will check for me. So, I am looking for thoughts and info on what, if anything, I should ask or do in this situation. They have been very nice and willing to explain everything, and I'm not saying they are (or aren't) pulling the wool over my eyes. I just need info so I can make an informed decision about what, if anything, I can or should do.

Car is 2014 Z51. I'm a first-time vette owner and not at all informed about the tech side of how it runs, just the fun side of running it too fast according to the local officers.

Liz

 

If they followed the GM procedures, the torque tube would not be touched. It might move around a little bit, but not enough to cause any damage.

Also, if they followed GM procedures, the transmission would remain in place sitting on a drivetrain support fixture.

 

If your gear jamming damaged the differential the forces that did that could also have damaged the torque tube and it just took a little bit longer before it started showing symptoms.

Bill

 

I hear you, and I do drive like a bat out of hell, BUT I am driving an automatic--so would this still apply? I had to get an automatic due to my hubby's disability so he could drive too, and not sure that no matter how crazy I drive that it could be jamming any gears like when I had a manual.

Thanks for your reply, by the way. Appreciate the input.

 

Well hell, this means that it's more likely that it really is just one insane hell of a coincidence for both parts to fail within a few hundred miles of each other after both going 65k miles.

Thank you for your time in answering!