Should my diff die at 45k?

[Matman70]

Hi all,

Please bear with me, I have only a rudimentary knowledge of mechanics so I might suffer an aneurysm if I’m asked for clarification on gear ratios or doobery whatsit flange-plate torque settings

I drive a 2018 MK8 Transit 350 Tipper, 6 speed manual with just a tad under 45k on the clock.

My boss bought it when it was 11 months old and had 8k on it so I can’t vouch for how loved it was before this time. Since we’ve had it, it’s not been driven like it’s stolen and it is clearly a very low mileage van. It does very regularly carry full capacity loads (and the occasional “little bit over” loads but it doesn’t get subjected to burn-outs, doughnuts or handbrake turns (well, not every day )

For the past few weeks, there had developed a humming from the rear that was reminiscent of 200k+ mile vans I’ve driven over the past 25-30 years.

I assumed it was the diff but at such low mileage I read the entire interweb to find out if it was anything less yucky. My optimism went unsatisfied so I got the boss to get it booked into Ford for a look-see.

The results were not awesome.

According to Ford, the diff is, what the technically minded among you would call “fu**ed” and will need replacing.
So, finally getting to the point.

Should a Transit diff last a little smidge longer than 45k miles?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Regards

Matt

[Airthies]

I'd be taking it elsewhere than ford the won't want to remedy anything rather just fit new.

As you say I've a diff that'd done about 250-300k and it's whined since I got the original van it was in, last time I looked in the case it wasn't gleaming like it'd rolled off the production line but was far from fubar.
Unfortunately that's a Dana and if I'm not mistaken the mk8 is running a ford 9.75" diff,I'm not sure how they holdup with a long term whine, but it seams a bit early to be having a failed diff just due to road miles.

Sent from my Armor 8 Pro using Tapatalk

[dumper]

Have you checked the oil level.

[Matman70]

@Airthies
I’m of the same belief, Ford are only interested in replacing for brand new at a ridiculous price. I’ve told the boss that he’d be far better off taking it to an independent mechanic that actually knows what they’re doing.

@dumper
Ford say that they’ve stripped it down and determined that it is fubar.
I’d like to believe that they would be honest if it were simply a lubricant issue but I don’t have very much faith in their integrity when it comes to making a quick few grand.

Thanks for your replies

[metalworker0]

it may just need shims - have they showed you the wear ..
gears, axles etc ..if they are in too close a contact with one another become noisy..the solution is to shim them apart ..i may be wrong about yours - just saying.

all the best.mark

[Matman70]

Thanks Mark,
I haven’t seen anything from them but the boss is going there tomorrow. I’m suspecting that they won’t be too keen to show any evidence of anything because they just want to sell an overpriced diff.
I’ll certainly feed back your suggestion to whoever we get to do the works, because it certainly isn’t going to be Ford.
Many thanks

[dumper]

Henderson transmission mailto:gary@hendersontransmissions.co.uk 01427 875889