Whirring noise from rear end.

[johnbyebye]

Hey guys,

I have this resonating whirring noise coming from my rear end at about 35-45 MPH. It's there whether I am accelerating or decelerating. I was convinced that this was one/both of my rear wheel bearings so I just had the bearings and seals done at the dealer yesterday. Welp, the noise is still there. LOL. hwell:

I am now concerned that it is coming from my rear diff, but I really hope not. It doesn't seem to fit the noise patterns of failing pinion or carrier bearings, but I have been wrong before.

This noise started right after I had the tires rotated, as well as lubricating all the driveshaft fittings. Prior to this it had either been much quieter or I simply did not notice it. I normally have music playing. This was about 350+ miles ago. The noise hasn't gotten any worse but is wildly inconsistent. Sometimes I hear it louder than others. It appears to be loudest when everything is cold in the mornings when I leave for work.

The KO2's I have on my 4runner seem to be pretty loud anyway and I would LOVE for this to be tire noise but, I would be surprised if that were the case. I would also feel like an idiot considering I just spent 900 bucks at the dealer. Lol.

Anyone else have similar a noise? I can try to get a video of it later.

Thanks.

 

[Buckaroo]

Assuming pitch changes with speed? Check to see if the noise changes when the road surface changes (i.e. blacktop to concrete)...if so, I vote tires.

Good observations that noise is same accel vs decel...that tends to addresses diff pinion ring problems but not pinion bearing issue...check the gear level in your rear diff if you have not done so recently. Any issues with rear axle seals? (i.e. oil/sludge inside rear brake drums)

Buckaroo

 

[johnbyebye]

Assuming pitch changes with speed? Check to see if the noise changes when the road surface changes (i.e. blacktop to concrete)...if so, I vote tires.

Good observations that noise is same accel vs decel...that tends to addresses diff pinion ring problems but not pinion bearing issue...check the gear level in your rear diff if you have not done so recently. Any issues with rear axle seals? (i.e. oil/sludge inside rear brake drums)

Buckaroo

Thanks for the reply.

The noise appears at 35 and stops at around 45-50. Above and below those speeds I don't hear this specific noise, just more tire and road noise.

I had my seals and bearings done yesterday, as I thought one of the rear bearings was the source of the noise. The dealer said they weren't leaking too bad and it hadn't reached my drums yet. I imagine my rear diff fluid is full at this point, so if it were low before, it has made no difference in the noise. I did check it about 2 months ago and it was full. The only thing the dealer noticed was that my drums have a lip inside due to being worn out, so getting the drum off required more effort. I will be replacing those soon, but my main concern right now is this noise.

I will pay more attention to the type of road later today and see if there's any difference.

 

[phattyduck]

Tire noise is a possibility since it did come up after rotation.

Tire rotations are free (or easy DIY) - try a quick front to back rotation again?

Any odd wear on the tires?

-Charlie

 

[johnbyebye]

Tire noise is a possibility since it did come up after rotation.

Tire rotations are free (or easy DIY) - try a quick front to back rotation again?

Any odd wear on the tires?

-Charlie

The tires look good. I'll have to try rotating them back again.

I have a record of the previous owner purchasing and installing the tires, but no rotations. I would assume that given the condition of the tires, they must have been rotated at some point, but I am no expert in this area. Assuming they had never been rotated in their 27k miles life prior to me, would this cause all the noise?

Also quick correction, it has been about 1600 miles since the tire rotation/driveline lube.

 

[kolelt]

check your gear fluid. If its Grey and dirty. Flush it. But be prepared to replace the bearings inside the 3rd member. I had a whining noise and ended up being diff bearings. Gear fluid would always be GREY and dirty

 

[RonJR]

Always look for what changed just before the problem started. In your case it was
- rotated the tires
- lubed the drive shaft fittings.

Based on that, I would suspect the tires, as has been suggested, or a failing u-joint.

 

[johnbyebye]

As it turns out, the noise was not coming from the rear end. When I am in the driver's seat it could sure fool me though. I had a friend ride with me in the back and he said it's coming from somewhere near the middle/front. At this point it is undoubtedly my transfer case. It makes the most sense since that is what I found with a significant amount of water in it. :frusty: The noise has not gotten worse since I started hearing it and since I flushed out all the bad fluid.

At this point, I don't care. Lol. The transfer case works just fine so if it makes a little noise then I'll live with it and use it 'til it dies. I'd rather spend money on getting my build started right now anyway. :thumb:

 

[Jayjayb96]

Its your tranny. It will only get worse or louder as you continue to use it without servicing/replacing it. Mine had that sound for a brief period of time. Over weeks it would progressivly get louder, then one day POP the tranny goes. Just spent 2400 on a reman from toyota and installed it. Hurt my wallet badly lol. Original tranny only had 178k too

 

[johnbyebye]

Its your tranny. It will only get worse or louder as you continue to use it without servicing/replacing it. Mine had that sound for a brief period of time. Over weeks it would progressivly get louder, then one day POP the tranny goes. Just spent 2400 on a reman from toyota and installed it. Hurt my wallet badly lol. Original tranny only had 178k too

Ouch. I wouldn't be spending 2400 bucks that's for sure. Lol. I had my tranny swapped 4K miles ago. It's my transfer case. It was filled to the top with a mixture of water and gear oil as a result of a shop not connecting the vent hose. I'm going with Occam's razor.

 

[mtbtim]

Its your tranny. It will only get worse or louder as you continue to use it without servicing/replacing it. Mine had that sound for a brief period of time. Over weeks it would progressivly get louder, then one day POP the tranny goes. Just spent 2400 on a reman from toyota and installed it. Hurt my wallet badly lol. Original tranny only had 178k too

Hey Jay, did you install it yourself?

 

[sawguy]

I had a noise similar to this and chased it for 6 mos. Tires

 

[Jayjayb96]

Ouch. I wouldn't be spending 2400 bucks that's for sure. Lol. I had my tranny swapped 4K miles ago. It's my transfer case. It was filled to the top with a mixture of water and gear oil as a result of a shop not connecting the vent hose. I'm going with Occam's razor.

Oh damn. Didnt realize you had already put another tranny in. Hopefully you can find a used transfer case cheap

 

[Jayjayb96]

Hey Jay, did you install it yourself?

Sup tim. Yes i i did! I picked it up a day before the meet/mod day but had no car so i couldnt stop by. Ended up getting it installed at a shop cause i needed it back up and runnin asap. Shifts so much smoother compared to my original

 

[mtbtim]

Sup tim. Yes i i did! I picked it up a day before the meet/mod day but had no car so i couldnt stop by. Ended up getting it installed at a shop cause i needed it back up and runnin asap. Shifts so much smoother compared to my original

I hear ya. I was hoping we could save you some money by helping you install it but I understand you needed your rig back on the road asap.

 

[johnbyebye]

Oh damn. Didnt realize you had already put another tranny in. Hopefully you can find a used transfer case cheap

No worries bro. There are some for sub-300 bucks, but honestly I ain't gonna worry about it right now.

 

[Jayjayb96]

I hear ya. I was hoping we could save you some money by helping you install it but I understand you needed your rig back on the road asap.

Yea i appreciate that. I know i would have loved to learn how to replace it but time was definitely a factor plus you and sean have been so busy helping out everyone so i didnt want to overload you guys with work haha. Definitely will make it to the next mod/meet or on the trails which we should do sometime soon!