Rear differential replacement issues!!

[jacobchristensen]

Has anyone replaced their viper rear differential with an aftermarket one from The Drive Shaft Shop? I have had to send mine back twice now to the shop because it’s making noise. The first time was the pinion bearing making a horrible wine which they told me would quiet down after awhile. I sent it back for them to fix and got it back with the pinion bearing still making noise just not as loud. Again they told me to just complete the break in period so I had a local Viper mechanic ride along and said he’s never heard a rear differential sound like that and to stop driving on it immediately and return to the shop to fix it. It’s been over six months now I’ve been dealing with them “trying” to fix it. I am supposed to receive it back in the next week or so to install it for the third time and very frustrated with the whole ordeal. Anyone else having or had issues with this shop???

 

[Dan-o]

Could be gear whine because pinion depth is off. Did you check the pattern? Did they put new bearings in? Pinion preload could be off as well. It takes a lot of skill and attention to detail to set up a rear end properly. I’d find another shop

 

[Dan Cragin]

The setup on Viper differentials is a bit of a learned thing, but most good gear shops should be able to setup a rear end to not much noise.
A noisy diff does not really mean there is a issue or its going to fail. On the Viper gear noise is a common complaint as the rear end is mounted
directly to the frame and any gear whine is directed right into the cockpit, less so in a RT/10.

Unitrax in Ca has done over 200 Viper differentials for my past customers over the years and is a good resource.