rear axle howl

[Grumpytrkr]

I'm getting a howl from the rear axle of my 04. 5 4X4 with an automatic transmission. I did a search, and am going with either a rear wheel bearing, or, a whole rear axle. The truck has 90,000 miles on it, so I know warranty will not cover it. It only does it when the temp drops into the teens or below.



If the whole rear axle has to be replaced, could it be replaced with the 4:10 rear end, in place of the 3:73? I know the front axle has to be replaced, too. I'm more worried about getting the speedometer correct, and to see how or if, the computer would be affected.



Thanks,

 

[cerberusiam]

Occasionally you will get ABS codes because it thinks there is a problem when you change gears. A lot of times it doesn't matter. All you can do is swap and see what happens. IIRC, it takes a new flash to correct for the gear ratio if you get DTC's.

 

[TSPowell]

If you have a two piece driveshaft it could be the carrier bearing. Mine starts to howl when it gets cold too.

 

[Grumpytrkr]

If you have a two piece driveshaft it could be the carrier bearing. Mine starts to howl when it gets cold too.

Oh hell, I forgot all about that. Didn't Ford have a problem with that? Now that you have tripped my pea brain, I remember reading something about that. Don't remember what vehilce it was for. Thanks,

 

[Nyoest]

I would think if you had a gear or bearing problem it would worse with warm/thin oil. Does it make more noise under accel or coast?

 

[TCDiesel]

Generally you will get a Bang when place in gear with bad Pinion or carrier bearings,Axle bearings rarely fail in AAs,howling is often related to drive-line failure.

 

[NIsaacs]

Grumpy, have you done any trouble shooting? As in draining the oil in the rear axle or transfercase and looking for signs of trouble?



I doubt the howl is drive shaft related, more incline to think transfercase or rear axle pinion or carrier bearings. Bad or loose bearings in these two places will cause ring and pinion mismatch and howl can occur.



Nick

 

[Motorhead]

The speedometer on our trucks reads off of the ring gear in the rear axle. It won't effect the speedo changing ratios. I did a 4:10 to a 3:54 on a 2002 second gen and the speedo was dead on after the switch.

 

[cerberusiam]

The speedometer on our trucks reads off of the ring gear in the rear axle. It won't effect the speedo changing ratios. I did a 4:10 to a 3:54 on a 2002 second gen and the speedo was dead on after the switch.

That is a second gen with a lot less computer intervention and operations. The CR's are a LOT different and sometimes they do not like the gear change even though it is still reading off the ring gear. They compare output shaft speed to wheel speed in the TCM and the ABS is much more involved in speed differentials. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

 

[Bob4x4]

Input and output speed sensors are compared for

Trans operation

 

[Mobius1]

Don't forget if you change rear end ratio's in the rear you have to change in the front as well!

 

[Grumpytrkr]

Grumpy, have you done any trouble shooting? As in draining the oil in the rear axle or transfercase and looking for signs of trouble?



I doubt the howl is drive shaft related, more incline to think transfercase or rear axle pinion or carrier bearings. Bad or loose bearings in these two places will cause ring and pinion mismatch and howl can occur.



Nick

No, I have done nothing, yet. It is kinda of cold here in Ill-annoy, and I don't have a heated garage. I think the first thing I need to do is take the rear diff cover off, and see what is going on there. There really isn't a lot that can be done before that, other than to inspect the rear drive shaft center bearing. I may have to wait for spring, or find somebody that I trust to take it to.



Thanks,

 

[p-Bar]

There is a TSB for the rear end howl issue . Mine has howled since new and the d e a l e r wouldn't do anything about it

 

[Bob4x4]

TSB

0300404 applys to03-04 4x2 with 140" wb only

 

[cerberusiam]

The OP has a 4x4.



The only time I had a howl it had lost a carrier bearing in the diff.



Now it has a different howl cuz it messed up the gear pattern.

 

[Grumpytrkr]

OK, here is what I found out. #1)On 12-22-05, the carrier bearing was replaced under warrenty. #2) On 12-20-05, I printed out a paper from Geno's Garage about the center carrier bearing. While Dodge didn't issure a TSB, they did issue a "Solution Number" which is K32981098. I hope this helps more people then me. I'm glad I kept all the paperwork on my truck.



Thanks everybody for their help.....

 

[Bob4x4]

That is a star case # not available to the

General public

 

[Grumpytrkr]

That is a star case # not available to the

General public

I don't exactly understand this. I printed it off of Geno's Garage Website.

 

[Bob4x4]

Wow..... it seems like you can google just about anything and get a result



2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Differential Complaints #10108260

 

[p-Bar]

Wow..... it seems like you can google just about anything and get a result



2004 Dodge Ram 2500 Differential Complaints #10108260

Google Bob4x4 and see what happens :-laf