On my 2000 Expedition 4x4 5.4L 3:55 LS, I have a howling noise coming from the rear I think its my rear axle passenger bearing. I took off the caliper and the rotor and seen a small leak and it smells like gear oil. Also there is movement when it move the axle shaft up and down....
So I was going to replace the rear axle bearings and seals....
Question is that should I use the repair bearings? or just the regular bearings?
Any harm using repair bearings?
Thanks....Gage

 

Has anyone used the Repair bearings?
Do I have to use a new Cross pin bolt? Im having trouble finding one....They list my truck with a 8.8 differential but I have the 9.75 differential.
Is it normal for the rear axle bearings go bad at 100500 miles? I never hand that problem before with any other Ford that I owned.
Thanks....Gage

 

I have not used the repair bearing.
I used the old cross pin and bolt.
I wouldn't call it normal, but sh@t happens. That bearing gets lubed by the rear diff gear oil, so if it was appreciablely low for a period of time that may help the bearing go.

Does the sound vary when turning left verses right, i.e, when the bearing is loaded versus unloaded?

I've always noticed some up and down movement of the axle shaft.

I think the repair bearing is only needed if the axle shaft surface is worn.

Also, I believe they make a special offset axle shaft seal to move the seal to a fresh surface on the axle shaft if the old one has worn a groove in the axle shaft.

I replaced the axle seal on my '02 Navi with a standard seal and haven't noticed any wetness on the backing plate. AND I reused the cross pin. And I noticed some up and down movement of the axle shaft.

Your mileage may vary......................

 

Thanks for the reply....pdqfprd
I get the sound no matter what I do...doesnt matter which way I turn the wheel, or the road im on....
I see that Ford has a TSB on this.....I think this is what I found.....

The Humming noise is NORMAL, but for those who want to fix it there is a TSB Ford initiated on it -

Drivetrain - Rear Differential Whine/Hum Noise
TSB 05-23-3

11/28/05

REAR AXLE NOISE REPAIR

FORD:
1997-2005 Expedition, F-150
2002-2005 Explorer
LINCOLN:
1998-2005 Navigator
2003-2005 Aviator
MERCURY:
2002-2005 Mountaineer
This article supersedes TSB 05-12-6 to update the Service Kit and Service Procedure information.

ISSUE
Some vehicles may exhibit an axle whine or hum during acceleration, deceleration and/or cruise.
ACTION
An axle repair kit has been developed which incorporates most parts required for a comprehensive axle repair. The kit should be used instead of installing a complete axle assembly to repair an axle whine/hum. Replace Ring and Pinion with Axle Kit and Components.
NOTE REFER TO THE "DIFFERENTIAL RING AND PINION" IN-VEHICLE REPAIR PROCEDURE IN THE ONLINE WORKSHOP MANUAL SECTION 205-00, FOR THE LATEST AXLE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR PROCEDURES.
NOTE FOR 1999 AND PRIOR MODEL YEAR VEHICLES, USE THE 2000 MODEL YEAR WORKSHOP MANUAL.
NOTE WHEN SERVICING THE REAR AXLE ON ANY 2002-2004 F-150, EXPEDITION, NAVIGATOR, EXPLORER OR MOUNTAINEER BUILT BEFORE 3/30/2004, IF FLUID REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED, REPLACE THE ORIGINAL FUEL EFFICIENT HIGH PERFORMANCE (FEHP) SAE 75W-90 REAR AXLE LUBRICANT WITH SAE 75W-140 HIGH PERFORMANCE SYNTHETIC REAR AXLE LUBRICANT. WHEN THE FLUID TYPE IS CHANGED, REPLACE THE CURRENT "FEHP" METAL TAG WITH A NEW "75W-140" TAG (F3TZ-4121-AA). IN ADDITION, REMOVE OR BLOCK-OUT THE FEHP REFERENCE ON THE MULTI-COLORED LABEL LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE AXLE TUBE. IF THE AXLE IS A LIMITED-SLIP MODEL, USE XL3 ADDITIVE FRICTION MODIFIER IN THE QUANTITY RECOMMENDED BY THE WORKSHOP MANUAL.
KIT ORDERING: REFER TO THE VEHICLE AXLE
TAG FOR AXLE RATIO IDENTIFICATION
^ 5L3Z-4209-A = (8.8-Inch Ring Gear/3.31 ratio)
(1997-2005 F-150)
^ 5L3Z-4209-B = (8.8-Inch Ring Gear/3.55 ratio)
(1997-2005 F-150, 2002-2005
Explorer/Mountaineer/Aviator)
^ 5L3Z-4209-C = (8.8-Inch Ring Gear/3.73 ratio)
(1997-2005 F-150, 2002-2005
Explorer/Mountaineer/Aviator, 2003-2004
Expedition/Navigator)
^ 5L3Z-4209-D = (9.75-Inch Ring Gear/3.31 ratio)
(1997-2005 F-150, 2005 Expedition/Navigator, 1997-2002
Expedition/Navigator)
^ 5L3Z-4209-E = (9.75-Inch Ring Gear/3.55 ratio)
(1997-2005 F-150, 1997-2002 Expedition/Navigator)
^ 5L3Z-4209-F = (9.75-Inch Ring Gear/3.73 ratio)
(1997-2005 F-150, 1997-2005
Expedition/Navigator)
NOTE 9.75 REAR AXLE HOUSINGS WERE REDESIGNED IN MID-1999, INCREASING FRONT PINION BEARING SIZE. REPLACING RING & PINIONS IN AN OLD-STYLE AXLE ASSEMBLY WILL REQUIRE INSTALLATION OF SPACER P/N YL3Z4662-CA. SPACER IS TO BE INSTALLED BETWEEN INNER PINION BEARING AND COLLAPSIBLE SPACER.
THE AXLE SERVICE KITS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS:

^ 4630 - Head Bearing
^ 4628 - Head Bearing Cup
^ 4676 - Pinion Seal
^ 386989-S2 - Washer (Slinger)
^ 4621 - Tail Bearing
^ 4616 - Tail Bearing Cup
^ 4222 - Differential Bearing Cups
^ 4221 - Differential Bearings
^ 4209 - Gear Set (includes pinion shims, pinion nut and crush spacer)
^ 4209 - Instruction Sheet
NOTE THE KIT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING ITEMS. SOME OR ALL OF THESE ITEMS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE AXLE SERVICE, DEPENDING ON AXLE APPLICATION/STYLE.
So I dont know anymore......I had a few people in there that they say they cant hear anything....
What I did was lift the truck up on jack stands and drive it up to 30mph and I still can hear the noise.
Thanks....Gage

 

Hello, talking about a similar problem I recovered from happened in my own ford F-150 last year. The issue persists in the rear axle in the job is not done right. Like, the noise may erase, but bearing get disturbed or maybe the alignment gets disturbed so many things. As a final solution, I landed Axle surgeons CA for the rear axle repair job. Only then I got it done full and final with complete satisfaction. It's still sound and working awesome.