Rear diff noise repair
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Junior User
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Rear diff noise repair
Alright guys I'm about to get into the rear end on this Expy. It's got a very pronounced whine at all speeds that goes with acceleration and deceleration. Disappears in the few seconds between while coasting. Loudest at about 40mph.
Brief history: had the truck only about a month, don't know the history of it other than it sat in the guys yard for a year before he decided he wasn't going to fix it and let it go to me. 215k. Runs and drives excellent now after the recent rebuild and suspension/steering/tire replacement. Adjusted my steering gear the other day (all new to me) and the play in the steering wheel is gone. Truck cruises straight as an arrow down the highway.
So you guys have any tips on what is usually the cause of that kind of noise? I've been told by my local drivetrain shop that it's most likely the pinion bearings. I'll be using my ALLDATA account to walk me through the process.
Thanks for the help.
Brief history: had the truck only about a month, don't know the history of it other than it sat in the guys yard for a year before he decided he wasn't going to fix it and let it go to me. 215k. Runs and drives excellent now after the recent rebuild and suspension/steering/tire replacement. Adjusted my steering gear the other day (all new to me) and the play in the steering wheel is gone. Truck cruises straight as an arrow down the highway.
So you guys have any tips on what is usually the cause of that kind of noise? I've been told by my local drivetrain shop that it's most likely the pinion bearings. I'll be using my ALLDATA account to walk me through the process.
Thanks for the help.
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Junior User
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Rear diff noise repair
OK I'm in. Here's a couple pics and videos of what I've found so far. It seems kinda loose to me, but I am definitely not a pro at rear diffs. Let me know what you guys think.
The oil seems pretty old and had a very strong burned smell to it as well.
The oil seems pretty old and had a very strong burned smell to it as well.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 229
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From: Phoenix, AZ 85008
yeah you have excessive wear in the differential and the fluid appears to have debris or metal in it.
The vid does not show the ring gear teeth that well. There may be metal transfer in the ring gear teeth as well.
>>>>>>Action
The vid does not show the ring gear teeth that well. There may be metal transfer in the ring gear teeth as well.
>>>>>>Action
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Junior User
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Yes the fluid has a metallic shine to it. I didnt know to show the ring gear teeth. I'll take another video when I get home. I just picked up a dial indicator from Harbor Freight. Thanks brother!
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix, AZ 85008
Get a shop manual as it will have some specs that you can compare your readings.
I fear the entire assy is beyond repair. If that is the case you can replace now or re-assemble with new fluid and use it 'til a more dramatic event like clunking. And live with the whine for now.
Good luck my friend.
>Action
I fear the entire assy is beyond repair. If that is the case you can replace now or re-assemble with new fluid and use it 'til a more dramatic event like clunking. And live with the whine for now.
Good luck my friend.
>Action
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Thanks. Repair is the only way. I have my ALLDATA account which has all the specs I will need.
I've got it completely disassembled at this point. I'm really glad I decided to do this. The diff pinion shaft in the center had taken some kind of blunt force and cracked the carrier housing with the lock bolt that was through it. Which in turn snapped the lock bolt. When I backed the lock bolt out, it was like a half inch of threads and the rest was still in the assembly. I had to pound the shaft out damaging the assembly even further. This is it as I found it.
I've got it completely disassembled at this point. I'm really glad I decided to do this. The diff pinion shaft in the center had taken some kind of blunt force and cracked the carrier housing with the lock bolt that was through it. Which in turn snapped the lock bolt. When I backed the lock bolt out, it was like a half inch of threads and the rest was still in the assembly. I had to pound the shaft out damaging the assembly even further. This is it as I found it.
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The carrier assembly literally just fell out once I removed the bearing caps. The shims had been worn down by the races spinning on them. Causing the whole assembly to fit loosely. Here you can see the pattern created by the bearing race. This happened on both sides.
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Then on to the pinion gear. It was definitely the cause of my noise. The front bearing was so loose I could just wiggle the whole thing by hand and when I spun it around it made the same kind of grinding noise I was hearing. Not to mention this pile of rubble sitting beneath the pinion gear shaft between the two bearings..
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 229
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From: Phoenix, AZ 85008
Considering all of the other damage the ring teeth don't look too bad. Has a couple hundred thousand miles of use, correct?
Have you pulled the pinion out? If so how does that look?
Check all of the other bearings (or inner CV joint bearings) as well to make sure they don't have issues. There is a lot of damage in there.
>>>>>>>>Action
Have you pulled the pinion out? If so how does that look?
Check all of the other bearings (or inner CV joint bearings) as well to make sure they don't have issues. There is a lot of damage in there.
>>>>>>>>Action
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Junior User
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Rear diff noise repair
Considering all of the other damage the ring teeth don't look too bad. Has a couple hundred thousand miles of use, correct?
Have you pulled the pinion out? If so how does that look?
Check all of the other bearings (or inner CV joint bearings) as well to make sure they don't have issues. There is a lot of damage in there.
>>>>>>>>Action
Have you pulled the pinion out? If so how does that look?
Check all of the other bearings (or inner CV joint bearings) as well to make sure they don't have issues. There is a lot of damage in there.
>>>>>>>>Action
Edit: my backlash was around .021in and the book calls for .008 to .015 I was reading in mm before. So I am well out of range.