Differential noise.

[kolelt]

So I had my rear diff rebuilt by ECGS. They did just the bearings. Driving it today it’s howling. At certain speeds. My question is, could it be the gears them self? The howl is not constant. Comes and goes at speeds. Can catch the howl at certain speed if you maintain it.....

Now it’s hard to tell if it’s from th front ! But I highly doubt it right ? Since the front diff doesn’t have any load in 2wd. Correct me if I’m wrong though.

I’m also experiencing a weird slap/play noise when shifting from 1-2. Kinda under me!!! Wonder if it could be a bad or lose front pinion ? Could the front pinion crush sleeve compress more if driven a lot in 4lo? I know the it could happen to the rear. That’s why many guys go with solid sleeve. ( ECGS put a solid sleeve in the back diff ).

 

[128keaton]

So I had my rear diff rebuilt by ECGS. They did just the bearings. Driving it today it’s howling. At certain speeds. My question is, could it be the gears them self? The howl is not constant. Comes and goes at speeds. Can catch the howl at certain speed if you maintain it.....

Now it’s hard to tell if it’s from th front ! But I highly doubt it right ? Since the front diff doesn’t have any load in 2wd. Correct me if I’m wrong though.

I’m also experiencing a weird slap/play noise when shifting from 1-2. Kinda under me!!! Wonder if it could be a bad or lose front pinion ? Could the front pinion crush sleeve compress more if driven a lot in 4lo? I know the it could happen to the rear. That’s why many guys go with solid sleeve. ( ECGS put a solid sleeve in the back diff ).

Wheel bearings? How are your u-joints? I know my wheel bearings howled before they broke (heavy water driving thru 3 feet of water, rubber water retainer failed).

Bad u-joints typically come with a vibration, but sometimes it just sounds like you're flying a single-engine aircraft.

 

[kolelt]

Wheel bearings? How are your u-joints? I know my wheel bearings howled before they broke (heavy water driving thru 3 feet of water, rubber water retainer failed).

Bad u-joints typically come with a vibration, but sometimes it just sounds like you're flying a single-engine aircraft.

All 4 brand new wheel bearings. Tone doesn’t change when turning left or right. And haven’t went off roading. Rear drive shaft was balanced and all u joints either replaced or checked before sending the diff out to ECGS. Kinda have a feeling they didn’t set up the pinion properly. It’s a howl. Straight up like a bad diff bearing. Although I’m not sure if bad worn pinion could cause that? And I’m not sure if the front could bring noise since it’s in 2wd and there’s no load on the front diff.

 

[128keaton]

All 4 brand new wheel bearings. Tone doesn’t change when turning left or right. And haven’t went off roading. Rear drive shaft was balanced and all u joints either replaced or checked before sending the diff out to ECGS. Kinda have a feeling they didn’t set up the pinion properly. It’s a howl. Straight up like a bad diff bearing. Although I’m not sure if bad worn pinion could cause that? And I’m not sure if the front could bring noise since it’s in 2wd and there’s no load on the front diff.

You could try loosing the nut on the pinion to see if makes a different. PITA iirc since its staked. Definitely a possibility.

 

[kolelt]

You could try loosing the nut on the pinion to see if makes a different. PITA iirc since its staked. Definitely a possibility.

Probably needs to be tighter.

Is there a way to diagnose if the transfer case output bearing is the cause ?

 

[pluton]

I once had worn pinion bearings(on a Toyota 4WD truck) that made a noise that fits your description
Suggestion: Take it to a experienced professional---not necessarily a drivetrain specialist---for a diagnosis. Offer to pay(if you've got the dough)----often they won't charge for just driving it around the block, listening to the noise, and giving you their opinion.
Another suggestion: Put it up on jack stands and see if you can isolate the noise, being aware that it may not produce the noise without a load.

 

[kolelt]

I once had worn pinion bearings(on a Toyota 4WD truck) that made a noise that fits your description
Suggestion: Take it to a experienced professional---not necessarily a drivetrain specialist---for a diagnosis. Offer to pay(if you've got the dough)----often they won't charge for just driving it around the block, listening to the noise, and giving you their opinion.
Another suggestion: Put it up on jack stands and see if you can isolate the noise, being aware that it may not produce the noise without a load.

Right on. Just going to call ECGS Monday And demand them to fix it at their cost. Should of never happened. Since they were the ones who rebuilt it.

 

[Wedgy]

I wouldn't demand anything but inquire nicely as to what may be the cause. Probably best not to start off by insulting them and they will be much more helpful. By the way I have almost the exact noise going on at 167K, lubed the U-joints and no change so I'm thinking of doing a locker or Trutrac or something once I isolate the problem.

 

[dogtail]

Not sure if you've done this. To isolate noises with setting the rearend on blocks. Get under to listen and get a friend to bring it up to speed shifting thru the gears. Try unlocked and locked. You can also set the rear non drive side on the ground for pressure. Can do same with front, engaging transfer. Just playing with as much scenarios as possible while being able to simulate it driving while being underneath.

 

[Llowlife]

Does it seem to howl more on accel or decal?
Does the howl change on accel or decal?
If so possible gear setup wrong.

 

[kolelt]

By demand I meant respectfully. Of course! The howl is under acceleration. It comes and goes. Really kicks in at 50-65mph. Can really hear it. Actually hard to hear the passenger talk! If you floor it it kinda goes away. Let of, it comes back. Definitely sounds like pinion bearing.

 

[kolelt]

Does it seem to howl more on accel or decal?
Does the howl change on accel or decal?
If so possible gear setup wrong.

It’s all of the above. But certain speeds. Wouldn’t the gears whine more vs howl? I could be wrong.

 

[Llowlife]

Howl, whine, we may be calling the same noise different names. Just trying to determine if the bears were set up wrong. Correct tooth pattern, backlash etc. Hard to do on the internet. Usually backlash shows up more on decel.

 

[kolelt]

ECGS really stepped up. What a amazing customer service. They will be sending me a freshly built 3rd member. Once I get it I can send mine back to them. That’s really awesome of them.

 

[JZiggy]

ECGS really stepped up. What a amazing customer service. They will be sending me a freshly built 3rd member. Once I get it I can send mine back to them. That’s really awesome of them.

That’s great to hear. ECGS is a good company to work with.