I recently bought a 08 1500 4x4, it has 190k miles on it, but it has the 4.7L with a 6 speed manual transmission. Less than a week after buying the vehicle, I took it to get serviced at jiffy lube ( everything seemed fine, I don't think they had anything to do with my problem). The next day I was towing a 6x12 uhual trailer, I made it to the top of a steep uphill climb and started to pick up speed to freeway speeds (70mph) and the ring and pinion in the rear differential gave out I'm assuming? The entire rear driiveline shot out from underneath truck, rear differential locked up and I slid to a stop. I'm having a mechanic fix my truck, I want to make sure that putting a new rear end in my truck will have a warranty along with it. My questions are #1 is this a common thing to have happen? And my 2nd question is, I want to put a aftermarket upgraded rear axle assembly and driiveline in so this won't happen again. Is there a place that even makes such a thing, and if so can somebody point me in the right direction?

 

Wasn't there a recall on those trucks for the rear pinion nut coming loose?

 

I have done a recall search prior to purchasing the truck, and there wasn't any recalls of the sort according to KBB

 

I didn't see any recalls either. Do you know if the vehicle is still covered under warranty? The two ways to see if the pinion nut is loose is one by shaking the driveshaft at the pinion flange and two, remove the driveshaft from the flange and put a torque wrench on the 1 1/4 nut. Make the nut and flange with white paint and then using the torque wrench set at 50 pounds. If the nut moves at least 1/2 inch. The pinion is loose. And the pinion bearing, pinion and ring gear sure be replaced.