[Kim Pallister]

Aren't surprises like that fun? (sarcastic tone)

Last year, the rear diffy on my SUV started to go. The former owner had claimed he hadn't towed much with it, but given the sherman-tank-towing-capable trailer hitch he had on the back I should have known better.

Anyway, I go get the ring and pinion gear changed on the differential. Garage orders the stock gear (spider-sense tingling yet?) and replaces it.

I pick up the truck, drive it around for a week, then go skiing. Weather takes a turn for the worse, I put it into four-wheel drive.

Well, the former owner never told me that he changed the gearing from stock to something else, and well, you can imagine how it drove in the snow with the front and back wheels spinning at different speeds. I just thought the roads were REAL slippy.

Then I eventually get onto pavement, the diffy's working like hell, and it heats up till it's smoking.

Then I had to get it rebuilt again.

Anyhow, I sympathize!

K