High Pitched Whine

[tbeddow]

I have a 204 1/2 3500 with 6 speed transmission, and 74,000 miles. The heaviest load I have pulled is a small compact car on a car hauler and I occassionally use a 2100 lb slide in camper. I have a high pitched whine when very cold (single digits and lower) at about 25 to 35 mph and in lower gears. The whine occurs whether clutch is engaged, disengaged, transmission in neutral or in gear. Whine goes away after truck warms up and at highway speed. The pitch of the whine does not change with speed except that it goes away at highway speed. It got so bad at -13 the other day that i took it in to Dodge dealer because I was getting ready to travel across country. The technician diagnosed it as worn pinion bearing and the repair cost $1200. 00. I started across country and heard it again faintly several times early in morning when cold and first starting out. Anyone had this problem. Any comments would be asppreciated.

 

[Slow Six]

Kind of sounds like mine before the rear end went. Cost me $2500 as I needed ring gear, pinion, bearings and all the seals. I am not to pleased with the AA diffs. The Danas in my older trucks were much better.

 

[gathomas]

Noise ??

Just want to put my two cents in... . at -13 I would be inclined to check power steering for noise... ... I didn't see your sig... so I don't know if your 2wd or 4x4.



Mine is 2004 3500 Dually 2wd Auto Rack & pinion steering, if your truck has same steering as mine it uses ATF for fluid. Warning... PITA. . to Flush !!!



If you think "Whine" may be PS... the cheap & easy way out is to "EXTRACT" fluid from ps reservoir... . and replace with Amsoil Synthetic. Amsoil sells an Extractor for about $20

your obviously not going to get all of the fluid out, but several attempts will get enough Synthetic in there to make a difference.



Noise travels in these trucks, late last summer I thought I had a tail shaft bearing going bad... . Not!!... Front Wh bearings. Good Luck... . keep us posted what you find. Glen

 

[tbeddow]

Thank you gathomas and slow six for your reply. I hated to read slow six's reply , it has already cost me $1200. 00. I have had vehicles for 50 years and never had a differentisal problem. Now in these trucks that are suppose to last for ever, I have a problem at 74,000 miles. I am very disappointed.

 

[cerberusiam]

I would think its just the cold that does that. Mine makes ALL kinds of weird noises at those temps and a whine is one of them, I think it is the t-case until it warms up.



Any manual seems to make a LOT of noise cold. Just the nature of the beast when its cold.



A worn pinion bearing is pretty simple to replace and these differentials are TOUGH. I lost a carrier bearing in mine and had to drive 1000 miles loaded to fix it and it held. Messed up the setup and got things too tight when we replaced the beaings and it held. Took it apart again and found the issue, relplaced a race and drove 3k miles loaded heavy and stil no issues. They are pretty forgiving.

 

[MRaynor]

My auto transmission has done this for the last 70k miles and it now has 77k on it. Like you said, only when it is very cold though and only at those low speeds for a very short time.

 

[AMink]

When it's really cold and my wife is with me...



And then the fight began.