And if part of the install included making sure the axles and differential were truly full, then I expect them to drive in a few little circles and top it off. The shop messed up.

Wrong. They filled it. He did not state that they did not fill it. Failing to fill it would show them negligent. Finding it was low 6 months later is unacceptable. Besides, exactly what shop do you want to put your rig in 4wd and take it for a spin on asphalt? No shop I want touching my rig. This is very simple. They are not at fault.

I'll go back to the Jiffy Lube example. You pay them for 100% of the job. This includes removing the old oil, replacing the filter and putting the correct amount of oil back in. (And what ever the other 21 points are) It does not include them coming to your house every morning to check your oil before you leave for work. If they were responsible for the actual oil level in your engine, they would never touch any vehicle that had the slightest hint of a leak. Monitoring the basic maintenance items is your responsibility.

As for having to always check the shop's workàI'm not paying a guy so that I can tear my vehicle back apart and see if it was done right. If I had time, knowledge, and toolsà.I'd have done it myself.

We are not talking about checking work. We are talking about removing a single plug on the front diff to check the level. It is one of the things that should be done on a regular basis on many parts of your rig. Especially if you do any off-highway driving. It should have been caught sooner than 6 months.

Off the tech debate, I hate to go against a moderator, but I think the response did come across more like a Pirate4x4 answer instead of the usual courteous/helpful advice we've come to expect.

Sorry. I'll include more warm fuzzies in the future. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Welcome to the nature of the Internet. If you or anyone every want to chat with me shoot me a #. I'll even call on my dime. I'm blunt and it seems to rub folks the wrong way. Just as they are not going to change, neither am I.

There is a difference between helpful advice and posting an incorrect accusation. He accused 4 Wheel Parts of causing him to loose a pinion bearing (or bearings). This is obviously not the case. They are not at fault, no matter how you spin the story. To blatantly accuse them of this failure is wrong. If the failure was due to incorrect setup, then he would have a case.

This is about taking responsibility for ones actions. In this case responsibility lies directly with the owner of the vehicle. The owner is within reason expecting them to do the work correctly, using the correct parts and specs. Just as you wish that any shop take 100% risk when they touch your rig. We all mod and use our rigs. If you want 100% coverage and maintenance covered, buy a new Mercedes. The seem to be covering everything for the first 50K or so.

Michael