I'm having my 2008 G35 Journey AT serviced now. The tech is telling me there is a polymer "coupling" on the differential side of the drive shaft just before the differential housing.
Nissan is telling him this part is not available without purchasing the entire drive shaft.
Can any of you fine folks confirm that?
Are there any aftermarket replacements that do not require purchasing the drive shaft?

Thanks
Tim

 

Do you have a picture of the part? Not exactly sure what you are describing?

Just to verify, you're talking about the rear differential yes? Not the front differential of the AWD cars?

I suspect he's talking about the U-joints which are the non-serviceable polymer locked type. Plus they are pinned into place so getting the caps out would be EXTREMELY difficult.

Yes this typically requires replacement of the entire driveshaft.

Here's a picture of the pinning on the U-joint so you can see what I mean. Normally on older vehicles (up till about 1990's) that cap is held in with a snap ring on either the top or bottom, most modern vehicles have gone to a non-serviceable type that doesn't require grease and you replace the entire driveshaft.