valleyman
11-16-2003, 01:33 PM
When the speed shop was installing the 4.10 rear end on my '03 300A they pulled the axles to check the bearings. I had told them that with only 9800 miles on the car that this was just going to be wasted effort, but they insisted that they either do it or I go without their two year warranty on the job. Well, there's a reason they're in that business and I'm not.
There were visible imperfections on one of the axles right under the bearing surface on the wheel end. They appear to be scratches, about 3/4'' long, running parallel to the long axis of the axle and completely encircling the axle. They are not clearly visible to casual inspection, but once the axle is cleaned of grease and looked at carefully the scratches are readily apparent. When you run your fingernail across them it's easy to feel them. The axle surface is obviously NOT servicable as a bearing surface.
The bearing itself did not appear damaged nor did the seal. There was no untoward noise coming from the wheel area prior to disassembly. For others whose cars may have been manufactured around the same time as mine, the VIN is 2MEHM75VC43X612095. This is not a positraction rear end.
I took the defective axle to the local LM dealer (not the selling dealership) where I have had some routine service done on the car. After a day or two of dithering they agreed that it was a defect covered by the warranty and are paying for the new axle. The bad news is that my car has been on a rack for two weeks waiting for LM to ship an axle. Apparently they're on "back order." So, be aware.
There were visible imperfections on one of the axles right under the bearing surface on the wheel end. They appear to be scratches, about 3/4'' long, running parallel to the long axis of the axle and completely encircling the axle. They are not clearly visible to casual inspection, but once the axle is cleaned of grease and looked at carefully the scratches are readily apparent. When you run your fingernail across them it's easy to feel them. The axle surface is obviously NOT servicable as a bearing surface.
The bearing itself did not appear damaged nor did the seal. There was no untoward noise coming from the wheel area prior to disassembly. For others whose cars may have been manufactured around the same time as mine, the VIN is 2MEHM75VC43X612095. This is not a positraction rear end.
I took the defective axle to the local LM dealer (not the selling dealership) where I have had some routine service done on the car. After a day or two of dithering they agreed that it was a defect covered by the warranty and are paying for the new axle. The bad news is that my car has been on a rack for two weeks waiting for LM to ship an axle. Apparently they're on "back order." So, be aware.