Noise From Rear End

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Drew Lonker

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Jul 26, 2012
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I have an 01 4x4 Sport trac with 110,000 miles on it and have recently noticed a clunking noise coming from the rear differential area (limited slip diff fyi). I decided to change the differential fluid to see if that would help and noticed my spider gears were all chew up. I replaced them and put in new fluid (75w-140 synthetic) and friction modifier and still get the clunk. It only happens if I weave from side to side or go over some uneven road like train tracks. It sounds like some medal is moving from side to side and hitting something. Could it be u joints? Any ideas would be great! Thanks
 
Unlikely, but check your rear sway bar links while there. They usually squeak, not clunk.
 
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I jacked it up and pushed and pulled on the wheels and was able to move them ever so slightly, I guess it could be the cause of the noise but why would this happen?
 
1/4" to 3/8" play appears normal. Many more posts, here's just four.



http://www.mysporttrac.com/shared/msgboard9e.asp?BOARDNAME=MSG&VIEW=1214867

http://www.mysporttrac.com/shared/msgboard9e.asp?BOARDNAME=MSG&VIEW=1291659

http://www.mysporttrac.com/shared/msgboard9e.asp?BOARDNAME=MSG&VIEW=1338243

http://www.mysporttrac.com/shared/msgboard9e.asp?BOARDNAME=MSG&VIEW=1341612
 
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Did you check or replace your differential pinion bearing when you changed them gears? Same question for axle bearings.
 
When replacing my spider gears nothing else jumped out to me as worn or anything. I didn't replace pinion bearing or axle bearings. But it sounds like something is actually moving around inside the differential when I swerve. Would a bearing make a noise like that? I figured if it was a bearing it would be more of a "hmmmm"
 
Worn-out bearings can make different noises depending on how they fail, but if you had one that was coming apart the noise would be constant - and not for long either because you'd soon be broken down. I have no experience with rebuilding a differential, but because noise is present only under side load it seems something's not right internally. You're probably going to have to take the cover off again to inspect the gears.
 
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