Exploding Rear End

[Paul Christopher Cloyd]

I have a 2010 12Passenger Savana 2500, 6.0ltr 3.42r axle. We just turned 50,000 miles on a trip to the local CVS. I was leaving the parking lot and her rear end blew out like a @'jhgfxbh, well something like that. The pinion Bearing is now hanging out and lube sprayed everywhere. Has anyone had or even heard of this. I have had a dozen or so personal vehicles and drove several commercial work vans and never had trouble with the back side. Really wondering if this is odd. I have 5 kids and the wife and I use the van for our Family Vehicle, so no towing or neutral drops going on, just trips around the house and vacations.

[Doug_Scott]

Any evidence of the rear end leaking all the fluid out prior to it failing? Do not really understand how the pinion bearing can be hanging out. Do you mean the area around the cover has not failed, but the pinion side (where U-joint attaches) has broken open, and you can see the pinion bearings?

Not trying to be picky, just wanting a better picture of what you mean.

[Jsdirt]

Sounds like GM's differential line was running a Saturday shift on New Years Day ...

[Paul Christopher Cloyd]

Hear is an image of the trouble, bad stuff hanging in the center of the picture.

[Paul Christopher Cloyd]

I also had no leaks, my driveway is spotless. The next image I have is the tow truck picking the van up. As stated before the diff sprayed fluid everywhere and evidence is all over.

[00Silverado4x4]

Holy moly. Haven't ever seen that before. Did the pinion nut fall off?

[Paul Christopher Cloyd]

Not really sure about the Nut 00Silverado, just looking for some feedback at this point. I searched online for any common problems with this and found none. I haven't spoke with my dealer yet but did contact GM to check their pulse on the situation. The rep was personally concerned and asked if anyone was injured. He followed that up with, "unfortunately your Drivetrain Warranty is expired".

[Duelin]

Do you know the in-service date of the vehicle? That is the day the warranty would have started. Mileage wise you still fall under the 100,000 mile portion. If you are out of warranty time wise talk to the dealer manager and have him contact GM and see if GM will pick up part of the repair seeing that the vehicle isn't out of warrant that much.

[Doug_Scott]

Holy moly. Haven't ever seen that before. Did the pinion nut fall off?

 

That was why I questioned the original description. That looks like the pinion broke between the bearings. The spacing between the u-joint flange and pinion bearing looks to be still inline and about the correct distance. Had the nut come off, I would not expect to see the bearing still spaced correctly. If however, the inner pinion bearing came apart, the pinion would push itself towards the front of the van due to the gear angles I think. Still something I have never seen or heard of, to answer the original question.

 

As already suggested, get the in service date for your van. It just about must be within 6 months of the end of powertrain warranty. Seems too close to be not considered. Offer to pay twice the deductible.

[Paul Christopher Cloyd]

The dealer looked at it today and could give no info as to what happened that caused the failure.

[Paul Christopher Cloyd]

To answer your other questions Dec 2009 is our actual purchase date and 50,001 miles

[Paul Christopher Cloyd]

The Mech told me the Pinion Gear actually "Broke"

[Doug_Scott]

The Mech told me the Pinion Gear actually "Broke"

Keep in mind that all I have is the picture to go on, but, to me it looks like the pinion gear broke either right at the point where the actual gear "starts" and the shaft "ends". Right at the point where the inner pinion bearing presses to, or just in front of the inner pinion bearing. Both spots should show signs of a defect in the metal. Would piss me off to no end if I was on month 65 of ownership and warranty ended at month 60, and mileage at 50% of warranty limit. Less than 10% out by time.

 

Are you in a position to replace the van? Maybe see what dealership manager can do for you..

[Paul Christopher Cloyd]

That's awesome Doug, that's exactly what's in my mind. I just wanted to float this for thoughts and I'm trying to be cool headed about the whole thing. All cars are going to fail at some point, it never happens at a convenient moment. Things like this make me nervous driving my family on vacations. Also, I drove the family to Hilton Head for spring break this year. On our way home the van went into reduced power mode, service stabilitrak etc. we limped it to a hotel. The next day we had firestone check the code and found it to be a tps failure code. That day we had no other problems with the van and made it home peacefully. The dealer replaced the sensor and now this. We have had lots of probs with this van and the tps has been a real thorn in my side and now literally pain in the vans a$$.

I hope others don't have this happen.

[LeoS41280]

I seen something like that happen at a racetrack once. It was a pumpkin type Ford axle. The housing where the bolts holds the pinion bearings in broke and the pinion came out.