Losing my rear...

[mr.wilson]

What are some of the warning signs of a rear end going bad. I have picked up a strange vibration within the truck. After checking every U-joint, tire, drive line it is still there. My fear is that something inside the rear end is going south. I notice it mostly at highway speed or when I am accelerating. I wouldn't say that is a bad vibration just annoying.



Has anyone blown up an AA rear end?

 

[Slow Six]

When my rear diff went out last fall it started as a slight whine when decellerating at low speeds, almost undetectable at first and then slowly got worse and than got real bad. The u-joints are almost imossible to check as they usually are dry,(as in no grease). It is difficult if not impossible to get movement in them but they are still shot. One tell tale is a fine line of rust around the cups. This does not always show up but if it is there than the joint needs changing. You can also check for a hot joint after driving for a while. There are lots of threads on here about this and almost all problems like yours are u-joint related. How many miles on your joints and what ones are in? Factory joints are notoriously short lived. My first set went out at less than 50,000 miles.

 

[rjones]

my first impression would be the joints or a center support bearing which btw was where my vibration came from... .

 

[steved]

Did you actually REMOVE the driveshaft to check the joints? They typically seize, and look fine externally... you can only diagnose them by taking the shaft out and seeing their flexing condition.

 

[KKaminski]

This sounds a lot like the problem I was having a few weeks ago. THere was a rumbling sound and feel from the driveline. I checked the rear-end, oil good and no leaks. Did a couple of searches here for related problems and it sounded like the u-joints.

Replaced all the u-joints and center bearing (which is a PITA) and aligned the shaft as good as possible with eyeballing it. Everything worked great.

Then today - I wanted to take my RV to work because of an extended number of shifts - and it's 75 miles from home. Anyway, everything worked fine until I got off the interstate and made a right turn, the clunking sound (like a bad joint) and the shaking returned. Only... ... ... . when I straightened out and got above 5 mph, it went away.

So, now I'm thinking that it's just the angle of the driveline because of the extra weight. If I'm wrong, please help. Or... ... ... . maybe this gave insight to others with the same issue?

 

[steved]

If you have a 4wd, I would suspect a front axle (knuckle) joint...

 

[rjones]

I never had a axle joint vibrate unless its awful bad and your in 4 x 4 guess anything is possible all my axle joints i physically saw they was bad they never had any symptoms of being bad hmmm

 

[steved]

The only difference between being in 4wd and 2wd is the transfercase being engaged... all the components still spin (all the time).



You describe classic seizing knuckle joints...

 

[mr.wilson]

I have replaced most all u-joints as of late. I replaced the rear one for the second time just a month ago when this problem reared its ugly head. I replaced all joints in the front drive line about 6 to 7 months ago and I have replaced both front knuckle joints in the last 2 years or so. The only one that I have not replaced is the one closest to the T-case and it seemed fine when i had it out on the ground.



Another note; Just recently while backing my 5th wheel camper up an incline into our spot for the weekend. Something was making a popping sound, it did sound like something either in the T-case or rear end.



Could the Limited slip be shot or would that even make a difference?

 

[rjones]

Did you look at the center support bearing?

 

[KKaminski]

After replacing all the u-joints and the center bearing, i pulled the fiver 75 miles to work and then to a campground. It really sounds - and kinda feels - like a u-joint issue.

I'm still getting the clunking sound when loaded with the RV and especially when turning, the only thing I can come up with now is that it's the driveline angle, 'cause it don't happen when I'm running solo.

 

[steved]

After replacing all the u-joints and the center bearing, i pulled the fiver 75 miles to work and then to a campground. It really sounds - and kinda feels - like a u-joint issue.



I'm still getting the clunking sound when loaded with the RV and especially when turning, the only thing I can come up with now is that it's the driveline angle, 'cause it don't happen when I'm running solo.

Wasn't there a batch of guys that placed a spacer between the frame and carrier bearing to solve this issue??? That was a long time ago I remember reading about that...

 

[KKaminski]

***Update***

After having the pleasure of worrying about my truck for the last 4 days - and making some short trips - the death whine and clattering has come to my differential. It's not too bad for now, so I'm gonna have to limp it home and then tear the rear-end apart.

I'm thinking that a bearing replacement will do the trick and adding all new fluid.

Any experienced people out there. I've done this twice before with older trucks, but still want to make sure I'm getting it right.