The planets finally aligned today. I had a day off And the gumption to take action. We took Roger to the shop to have a supposed bad rear wheel bearing changed. Unfortunately, the shop determined it to be the differential. I guess after 173000 miles its time for something to go. I know I compounded the problem by bragging about the regularity with which nothing goes wrong with this car..... All is not lost though, they have located a used unit and hopefully Roger will be back in service by end of next week. Id send him a card, but he cant read.

 

Lol....get well soon Rog.

Hopefully fixed soon and for much cheapness Jerry

 

How about flowers then?

 

He lacks the bud vase option. Perhaps a bouquet of dipsticks?

 

Sorry to here "Old Roger" has lost some of his bearings. I know the feeling. I have just had my diff bearings done both sides and now the car is whisper quiet. Get well soon Roger.

 

I called the shop today to see what goes on over there. The fellow said they have the diff, but their technician has taken off a couple of days for " personal reasons". Well. Ok . I suppose stuff happens..... Early next week completion date. Am I Concerned? Maybe.

 

Slightly frustrating news today. Theyve had the car 2 weeks. Today the sevrice guy called me and said theres "too much bearing play in the replacement unit." Ummm. Could we have checked this at some point earlier, like maybe when they got it? They are searching for another. Surely it can't be that hard to find. ("It is. And don't call me Shirley.") My trepidation is growing. Color me sceptical. The calming factor is that with fall coming on hard here at the south end of Lake Michigan, I wouldn't be using it anyway, and theyre keeping it inside as I would myself.

 

This is going from simple repair to winter storage!

Graham

 

I stopped at the repair shop yesterday after work to see if they did indeed still have my car. They do. What a relief. It looks like the Roger project is moving in the right direction. After ordering 2 more differentials, both also with the bearing wear thing, they decided to pick one and go with it, making repairs as needed. It was a bit distressing seeing my entire rear end out and in various states of dis-assembly. But, I was quite impressed with the fellow doing the work. He seemed very knowlegible and confident. As an added bonus, the diff theyre using is a lock-up one -which i did not previously have- and cost less than the first one. So, maybe the extra labor will wash ..... I'm feeling better now.

 

I've never driven one with a locking differential. I would be curious as to what difference it makes. Just curious.

 

I talked to the Guy there again Friday morning . I'm seeing a pattern in the way he says when things will be done without actually meaning it. He suggested that the car may be done this (Friday) afternoon, and then Went on to say next week. Needless to say, it's not done yet. It will be interesting to see If the locking unit makes any tangible difference. I am skeptical but welcome the opportunity to see.
Fervently Waiting!

 

Look forward to hearing about the new civilized, purring Roger. Except of course for when Roger roars and you are laying two strips of rubber on the pavement thanks to that new diff!! JK. Let's be nice to Roger, he's been through a lot.

30 days... BUGGA! Keep after em.

 

Roger made it home today. FINALLY! In the end, I think the shop did a good job. They gave up on fixing the used ones they were getting and ordered up a rebuilt unit. So I did not end up with the locking unit. Their claim was that even after all their fiddling and installing it twice it was still loud. Ok, I guess. But I didn't get say on if it was good enough, or on how to proceed once they decided it wasn't good enough, they just went forward and -yes they did call me, after the fact- got yet another. I'm really not sure how I would have proceeded given the chance considering that it ran the bill up to $2000 over the estimate of $2500-$3000. But, in fairness the owner had already put the total to $4000. In the end, My wife and I paid $3500 for the whole deal. Driving home it was quiet like never before. I heard tread hitting road. Whoa! I have not crawled under yet but hopefully sometime tomorrow ill get a chance.

 

I just acquired an '87 XJ6 and have determined that the differential carrier bearings are (as you said) "howling".
Local tranny shop with great reputation can replace for about $1500 worth of labor. I thought I'd get one of Jagbits' rebuilt units, new U-joints, center bearing, and new rotors
Question: has anyone had experience with the Jagbits rebuilt unit?

Thanks,

Bill

 

I unfortunately cannot say where the unit installed in my car came from. I didn't really "feel the love" to ask, as I was bickering with the shop owner about the price. $1500 labor is about what they quoted me for mine. Not sure myself of the comparison , but maybe try XKs unlimited for price comp? I did also have the flex rubber and the u-joints replaced while it was apart. Good luck.