Final Drive Failure Symptoms and Repair Costs?

[Polo Ardobie]

Has anyone dealt with final drive failure on heavy equipment, and what symptoms showed up first, unusual noise, weak travel, leaks, or uneven movement, and how much did the repair or replacement end up costing you?

 

[bumble_bee123]

watch for grinding noises or one track feeling weaker than the other, catching those early can save you from a seriously expensive final drive repair..

 

[randdyarroyo]

In my experience, a small hydraulic leak showed up first, then the machine started moving unevenly. Catching it early definitely helped keep the repair cost down.

 

[Nathan_Sanders0507]

That's exactly how a lot of final drive issues seem to start, with a small leak or subtle change in travel performance that’s easy to overlook. Has anyone caught metal shavings in the oil during an inspection before the final drive completely failed? That always seems like one of the biggest warning signs.