grinding noise coming from rear end

[sloopy]

i have a 98 sr5 4wd and the rear end is making a grinding noise i know it is not the brakes because i jacked the rear up and the wheel spun freely. i changed the fluid after i noticed the noise and it almost seems worse. i dont really have any experience with rear ends do you guys have any opinions or have you ever had this problem?

 

[bflooks]

how bad were the metal shavings on the magnetic drain plug? when was the last time you lubed the driveshaft?

 

[sloopy]

i lubed the drive shaft yesterday, and the metal shavings didnt look terrible it looked almost like black grease on the drain plug.

 

[sloopy]

i bought this tr4 one week ago from a lady and she had someone pull the parking brake and it stuck because noboby ever used it. so when i bought it i was thinking that it was the back brakes hanging up allittle bit but its not the brakes.

 

[bflooks]

you sure its not the brakes?

 

[sloopy]

well about an hour ago i jacked the back of the truck up again and it did seem like it was grinding a little when i spun the wheels i pulled the drums off and dropped them off at napa to have them turned. i took the runner to a shop they drove it and said it was not the brakes but maybe it is. i will know about it shortly.

 

[sloopy]

nope not the brakes. when i drove it down the road i would excellerate and then let off and coast and i would hear the grinding noise.

 

[bflooks]

wheel bearings? i really don't know.

 

[sloopy]

so how can you tell wether its a bearing or the gears? i have read a good article on how to change the rear end seals and it sounds easy enough.

 

[MARSHALLMAY]

*think u-joints, lube the zerk fittings

 

[sloopy]

yeah i greased all the zerks i didnt lube the zirk fittings but i know that the grease went in.?

 

[MARSHALLMAY]

yeah i greased all the zerks i didnt lube the zirk fittings but i know that the grease went in.?

you should see grease seep out of other joints. BTW, if it is your u joints that are making the noise, greasing them won't help too much. you'll need to replace them. But they're cheap...

 

[sloopy]

how do you tell if its a u joint?

 

[MARSHALLMAY]

how do you tell if its a u joint?

read THIS

 

[sloopy]

i am sorry let me word that differently. how do you tell if the u joint is bad?

 

[MARSHALLMAY]

grinding sounds. like you mentioned. so you know it's not the brakes, probably not the wheelbearings. replacing the u joints wouldn't be a high risk repair since they are so cheap.(about 10 bucks per u joint)