03 Seq diffs disintegrating?

[m0000]

I took my 03 Seq to the dealer to have some (many) warranty items addressed. Among them is a rumbling sound/feel when passing between accelerating and decelerating on the highway. At higher speeds (> 75mph) it feels to me like I'm driving on grooved pavement. On a related note, when I changed my diff oils, I noticed not just the usual fine steel "muck" on the drain plug magnet, but some filings as large as 3/8" long. I've assumed that the rumbling sound is slop in the rear diff from this premature wear (25k).

The dealer claims the rumbling he hears is "normal" and that iron filings the size of fingernail clippings in the diff oil are also "normal".

Can someone shed some light on this?

I've uploaded a pic of the filings and the shrapnel. Hope it works!

[doctormdds]

I also had MANY filings the size of yours when I changed the differential oil for the first time at around 10K miles. I now have nearly 80,000 miles with no problems whatsoever. I understand that the metal is normal at the first change of the differential oil. Subsequent changes have had none.

Stan

[longwoodklon]

I'd say that is the reason many people change their oil as soon as they get a new vehicle. It's been said that when they drill and tap the holes for the plugs, often those metal filings are not always flushed completely. So if you have these metal shavings on your first oil change, I would attribute it to that(assembly process not self-destructing differential). If you have more metal shavings upon subsequent oil changes, it is definitely a problem with your diff. and is NOT normal. Definitely make sure you document everything with the dealer so if they haven't fixed it by your 36k miles warranty expiration, you can at least go back to corporate and show them a history and hopefully they will honor it. /Mike