I received my new rear differential today, which consists of an AP2 Comptech reinforced housing with 4.57 gears. To my dismay, the package had clearly been dropped and the diff suffered some moderate damage, as you can see in the pictures.

What should I do? Should I go after UPS for the insured amount or try to install the diff? Is the damage to the diff too far beyond fixable?

Cracked housing





Bent axle joint



Obviously dropped here




Bent studs. There was a hole in the box through which this stud protruded.

 

are you sure it was during shipping? looks used.

 

If this was packed in such a way that the rear bolts to exit the box, it was clearly not packaged properly. I doubt UPS would take the liability on this one. It is worth a try, but don't hold your breath.

Now, for what to do with it.

1. You can swap the 1/2 shafts from your OEM diff to this diff. They just pop out and are only held in place with a C clip. I would be interested in the LSD that it fits into. It looks like it took some force to bend that ear. It may have damaged the LSD. I doubt it, but it could have.

2. The rear cover, if you can live with how it looks, it will be fine. If it bothers you, you can replace it. Cost about 200 in parts.

3. Bolt, Just remove it and install one from your OEM diff. They are about 10 each.

 

This video kind of scared me about how some people treat your shipped packages.

http://www.break.com/index/ups-tosse...s-package.html

Hopefully this is the only time this has ever happened! Thought you might want to see this, just in case you want to call up UPS with your shipment.

 

Who shipped this to you? When I ship a diff you can drop it from 10' feet and nothing will happen to it. Also If the diff has a Comptech reinforcement then it is an AP1 housing the only thing changed is the companion flange that goes to your drive shaft. The AP2 stock cap is not used for reinforcement because Comptech would have to change there design to compensate for the change made by Honda.
What is it insured for$$$$ That will help make you decide on to send it back for the insurance. With a bent stub axle there could be internal damage. The broke heat fins are not a deal breaker nor the bent studs but, the axle

 

It is used, but I saw pictures prior to shipment and it looked fine...it was clearly damaged during shipping. I'm sure UPS won't take responsibility for this; instead, I'm sure they'll blame the packaging, though they clearly dropped the diff.

Rick, thanks for the knowledge and it's good to know I can just take parts from my old diff to use on this one. Are the half shafts any different from an AP1 to an AP2?

 

good adv

 

good luck getting ups to pay for it, they just ruined my canon s3 that I insured for 400 dollars and they denied my claim after they screwed it up. I sent it in because it wouldnt turn on, canon got it with broken lense and crack case

 

I seems like it's not packaged properly more though ...

 

all packages shipped UPS should have at a minimal 2" of protection all along the item. with a diff weighing 70lbs or so, it should have been double boxed and in a double layered box so the item wouldn't break through.

ps. UPS requires all items pacakged to with stand a 10ft drop so if it wasn't packaged right you're claim will get denied UNLESS it was packaged by a UPS Store (all packages packaged by UPS are covered regardless of how they are packaged).