Problem with Truck rear end whinning

[lazy-in-the-shade]

This is the problem, i bought my first boat about 2 years ago and have had a great time but the rear axle on my pick up has started winning. I'm almost certan this was caused from backing the truck into the water and possibly the wheel bearing. I was wondering if this is a common problem and if there some type of maintinance i should be doing on the truck. I'm getting ready to take the truck to the shop but would like some imput from you guys who've been boating awhile. Thanks

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Is the whine more prominent while under load/acceleration, does it change or go away when you let of the throttle?

You might get lucky and just need to have the backlash adjusted.

 

[lazy-in-the-shade]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

No it's a constant whine, the faster you go the louder it gets.

 

[wifisher]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Do you back your truck in so far that water covers the top of the rear diff? Is so, look at the way you launch your boat and see if there is a way to avoid this. If the top of the diff is not underwater, you should not have any water getting into the gear case, so it would cause no problems.

Some more details about the noise would help. As sixmark asked, is the noise constant? If not, when is it loudest or when does it go away? Also, what kind of vehicle is it?

 

[lazy-in-the-shade]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

There's probably been a few times a may have backed it in there pretty deep. It's a 98 dodge ram 1500 2wd. Running about 20 mph it's fairly quite about 30 to 35 it starts humming and just gets louder from their. The whinning is probably more of a high pitch humming.

 

[odie241]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

How long have you been driving it like this,did it just happen? Is the humming coming from the middle,or on the driverside,passinger side? Lay under your truck,and on the top of the rear end,theres a vent hose,look and see if its cracked,also,what I would do,is replace the hose,make it longer,and zip tie it to the frame,at a high spot thats not getting submerged.If you havent been driving it long this way,I would pull the rearend cover,and drain,and clean the gears,put new lube in it,and then drive it.You might be ok.Use a good high temp temp gasket sealer for the cover,I personally use "The Rightstuff"

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Drain the rear fluid and replace it. You might get lucky and save the rear end. Chances are great that if you don't get the water logged fluid out of it, you're going to lock up the rear end.

 

[DJ]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

A constant whine/hum is typically a bearing: wheel end or pinion.

 

[Augoose]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

What's the condition of the drive shaft u-joint?

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

A constant whine/hum is typically a bearing: wheel end or pinion.

And a wheel bearing will often tend to be more noticeable on cornering, whereas the pinion would be more constant, this might help you out as well.

 

[partskenn]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Drain the rear fluid and replace it. You might get lucky and save the rear end. Chances are great that if you don't get the water logged fluid out of it, you're going to lock up the rear end.

Should definetly start by pulling the cover and draining and replacing the fluid. This might fix it, if not you can at least see if there are metal shavings or chunks in there.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Maybe carrier bearings on inside of differential are just worn out.

 

[emoney]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

It sounds more like a ujoint or a wheel bearing. Don't trust the sound from inside the cab when you're driving it because that can be really deceptive as to the source. You can always lift the rear on a jack and spin the back wheels to see if it's a bearing noise. I'd definitely get it looked at, however, because you can do quite a bit more damage if it is in fact in the rear end. Nothing like going 65mph down the road and the rear end locking up. But, then again, I wouldn't think that backing it into the water a couple times would be that hard on it. It's not like it doesn't get wet every time you drive in the rain.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Old school. Two cups of sawdust first, fill till full.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

Re: Problem with Truck rear end winning.

I've had two whiners in my lifetime. Both ended up being pinion bearings.