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It started with a slight rumbling sound in 4th at about 45mph. So I thought I would bring it in to see what was going on. I just received a call that the dealership must rebuild my rear end of my 98 1LE SS. Nice.... A brief comment on my disappointment. Besides the engine and the drive shaft, everything in the powertrain has been replaced and/or rebuilt by the dealership. When I first purchased the car, I had it for two days and then the dealership had to rebuild THE WHOLE transmission. Four thousand miles later, they are replacing a seal between the rear end and the driveshaft because the rear end was leaking. Five thousand miles later they are replacing the rear end. What gives? I have been accused of driving the car "like a girl" on occasion. I think I am very easy on it. I sure as hell don't rag on it. Could this be the result of having such an uncommon package on an SS (1 of 3 1LE SS's made in 1998) or did I just get a lemon?
Kevin Cansiani 1998 1LE SS 1 of 3 made in 1998 Stock
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I don't think its because it is rare I think its because the dealer doesn't know what they are doing. A lot of times they will try and fix something they don't know how to do and screw it up.
------------------ -Collin- 98' Camaro SS #2513 Sebring Silver,Gray leather, Hurst 6-speed,ASR, SLP options: Dual-Dual, floormats. Mods: Whisper lid with K&N,Hotchkis STB, !CAGS, Xenon headlights, Lou's Short Stick, MikeC FRC's, FRA Pictures
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I wonder what the fatality rate is for the rear ends in SS's. I work at the Milford Proving Grounds here in MI and I talk to guys in the small block group that say that the only reason that they don't give the LS1 more drastic calibrations is because the rear end can't take anymore. That's probably one of the reasons they will not make a special edition 2002 with an LS6 in it.
Posts: 135 | From: Michigan, U.S.A. | Registered: May 2000
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Yea, not with out a 12 bolt, or maybe a Dana and not this S-10 rear end that is presently in them.
Posts: 1446 | From: Germantown, MD USA | Registered: Feb 2000
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Just a guess here, but I would consider it an "educated guess!" The problem with your rearend is all because of the leaking rear pinion seal you were talking about haveing fixed a few K miles ago. ALOT of these cars have this leak, I was told it was because of incorrect preload on the pinion shaft bearings from the factory! What happens is that with little or no preload, the shaft starts to wobble in a VERY small amount and this is what causes the seal to fail. This, in and of itself, is not a major problem as long as it is caught early and FIXED PROPERLY! In order to fix this leak, they must pull the wheels, remove the differential cover, pull the axles, pull the carrier(pumpkin), and remove the pinion shaft and replace the crush collar. Then reinstall in reverse order, replace the leaking seal, and set the preload on the pinion shaft. MOST dealerships WILL NOT do it the correct way. They simply remove the driveshaft and pinion nut, pry off the leaking seal, and reinstall the nut and shaft. This shortcut is doomed to failure! The crush collar is a one time use only item and must be replaced! ANd in case you are wondering, yes I am speaking from expierence I took my SS in to Skinner Chevrolet in Livingston TN. and they tried the shortcut trick even after I told them that it wouldnt work! It took them all of 30 minutes to do this, and they then proceeded to bill GM for the amount of time listed in the service tech manual, about three hours if I remember right. The key here was that I knew to watch for it to leak again and guess what? Less than a week later it was leaking again! This time I took it to a different dealer and it was fixed the proper way.
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RichardZ is right. Right after I got my '96 the pinion seal went out. Had it fixed by a dealer in TX. Took a summer road trip to CA a few weeks later. Somwhere just before Flagstaff, AZ a enormous howl started. I had the diff. fluid changed in Flagstaff, but to no avail. I wasn't going to spend my vacation only half way to my destination so I decided to drive the car to CA. Took the car to a dealer. When they checked the rear they discovered the entire rear housing had to be replaced due to the diff. yoke being stretched to crap from a faulty pinion bearing locking up.. why did it lock up? Because of a maladjustment made by a "tech" back in TX who changed the seal. The only parts which were salvagable were the carrier and axles. Everything else had been burned up. Thank God it was still under warranty. BTW.. off the subject, but if you like to road trip in your f-body then I highly suggest taking a trip westward using either I-70 or I-40. It is beautiful and out in the desert you can see the road for miles. Kinda makes you wanna boot on it a bit.
------------------ 96 SS #597 M6 60' 1.70 on BFG drag radials 12.12 @ 114.2mph
Posts: 190 | From: South Riding, VA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Possum Was this covered by warranty? If so did they give you any hassel? That looks like it hurt alot, any under body damage?
Posts: 59 | From: NY | Registered: Jun 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Toolman007: Possum Was this covered by warranty? If so did they give you any hassel? That looks like it hurt alot, any under body damage?
Warranty? Yes Hassle? None. I got to the dealership with the car on the flat deck. The Service Dep't was closed. They got the car into the shop anyway and gave me a demo to drive over the weekend. I passed on the courtesy U-drive for the following week. UnderBody Damage? None that I've seen, they had to replace the torque arm though.
Posts: 4222 | From: Winnipeg MB CA | Registered: Feb 2000
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I took my SS in to Skinner Chevrolet in Livingston TN. and they tried the shortcut trick even after I told them that it wouldnt work! It took them all of 30 minutes to do this, and they then proceeded to bill GM for the amount of time listed in the service tech manual, about three hours if I remember right. The key here was that I knew to watch for it to leak again and guess what? Less than a week later it was leaking again! This time I took it to a different dealer and it was fixed the proper way. 
