Driveline Howl!

[Don Edmonds]

I've had my new truck about a month now and everything seems fine. No complaints save one. There is a difinite and fairly loud HOWL in the driveline. It occurs at about 50 MPH just after the automatic transmission locks up and goes away between 55 & 60 MPH. I haven't been back to the dealer yet, waiting to see if I can find anymore problems. I checked both the transmission & differential fluid levels and both were down about a pint+. You'd think they would fill them properly at the factory. My question is of course, has anyone else noticed this or have any Ideas?

 

[yellow jacket]

howl

Don

I had the some howl at about 70 mph . Fluid was down about a QT. in rear end. dealer took off rear end cover amd ring & pinion were fried(blue). This is a common problem--everyone has been *****ing about it. Anyways dealer was going to replace ring & pinion but at last moment decided to replace entire rear end because of the high mileage I put on . Have no probs since. Put 26000k in 3 months hauling race car trailers from IN to Ma Hope this helps . PS Try for whole rear end. My dealer is Bald Hill Dodge in Warwick RI. 03-2500 Quad Cab SLT 40/20/40 power seat ETH - DEE 373 Limited slip , 2WD, jake brake, B/D short shift, power trlr towing mirrors, trlr grp.

 

[lawdog]

In a few words... . American Axle Corp... ..... My dad was a Quality Engineer contracted into GM just before he retired... he drove his Dodge dakota to work every day..... 226,000 miles on a 1992 2wd dakota with a 3. 9L V6... AMsoil is AWESOME... . Back to the subject, he dealt alot with AAM with issues, including a gear howl in a Camaro / Firebird. He said the gear setters had about 40 seconds an axle to install carriers (lots of time to check for proper alignment... . )

He also had issues at the plant with different things, including finding out0of-spec parts. Their engineers said they work and we have been using them. Dad told them, "They are not to engineering specs, so they are scrap parts" and shut them down. He said if they test out and work, then I guess you had better change the prints to meet the acceptable specs, until it is corrected, your down... I also have a friend that works at GM Tech center. I told him that Dodge as putting American AXles into the rams, he said, That was dumb, they are going to have alot of problems like we (GM) do. they are junk.

 

[lawdog]

I just started to develop a serious howl at 75 mph on the speedo... . Should I pull the diff cover myself or just take it into the dealer????? I checked the fluid. . about 3/4"-1" below plug in rear. . low I see, even after I specifically asked dealer to check before delivery... . any suggestions????????

 

[dieselpilot1969]

what's your milage lawdog when the howl started

 

[lawdog]

About 2800 miles... I have 315's and just started hearing it. At 70 MPH it is fine (70 on speedo) but if go up higher to 75 It started making noise. Not sure if rear end, tires or if the exhaust just started to get load for some reason at that speed. . 3. 73 gears bone stock...

 

[EB]

Mine whines at 30, 50, 60, and howls at 75. Had the dealer ck it out and really couldn't find why. I told them the limited slip didn't work like it should and found out it was completely out. They ordered one and it will be put in tomorrow. Don't know what is involved in doing this, but maybe if they have to take the gears out, when they put them back in they will be set right and they won't whine. Maybe the limited slip was causing it, who knows. We will find out tomorrow.

 

[lawdog]

Please let us know the outcome... .

 

[LPChristensen]

How difficult is it to check the fluid level on this axle, any different than any other axel or is it a "let's go on down to the local Dodge Dealer" event? I have not spent much time under my truck yet, and have not had it on a lift for a good view, so I was wondering if there is an obstruction or something that might make it difficult.

 

[lawdog]

Just need a 3/8 drive ratchet and a finger..... the axle plug is a 3/8" square to put the ratchet into and just unscrew it.

 

[Shooter]

AA said that axle's were filled at the factory by volume and not by level. So 1" low could be full or 2"'s low could be full. or FULL could be FULL

 

[LPChristensen]

Thanks Lawdog, as soon as I get a day down here in South Texas when the driveway temperature is below 100 degrees, I'll crawl under my truck with my Craftsman ratchet and a clean finger and see what"s what. One more item on my to-do list.

 

[MMeier]

Just fill everything to the bottom of the threads and you will be fine!!

 

[EB]

I did find out if the limited slip being out on my truck was causing the whine, the answer is no. The limited slip in these trucks are entirely different than in the dana rear end. There are no clutches in it, the tech that worked on it said it was non-repairable in their shop. They just replaced the whole unit, one piece. I think it is a variation of the spring and cog type. You pull both axles then just unbolt it, about 10 or 12 bolts. The unit weighs about 75 lbs. If anyone knows how this unit works, let me know because I sure don't.