2004 Explorer limited slip differential noise

[gparkertx]

My 2004 with limited slip differential is making a grinding noise. I took it to an independent shop today for diagnosis and was told that:
1. The housing is made of aluminum and is flexible enough to cause such problems, and:
2. Only Ford dealers with touch them.

This is not consistent with postings on this forum. Can anyone shed any light on this?

 

[imp]

My 2004 with limited slip differential is making a grinding noise. I took it to an independent shop today for diagnosis and was told that:
1. The housing is made of aluminum and is flexible enough to cause such problems, and:
2. Only Ford dealers with touch them.

This is not consistent with postings on this forum. Can anyone shed any light on this?

B.S. to both 1 & 2. If center sections "flexed" very much, the gears would soon go south.

The noise, is it constant, or just when turning corners? Does it have any "hum" to it, or just a sort of chugging sound? Check the fluid level, add a dose of Friction Modifier, if the L.S. clutches are grumbling, that should clear it up. imp

 

[gparkertx]

B.S. to both 1 & 2. If center sections "flexed" very much, the gears would soon go south.

The noise, is it constant, or just when turning corners? Does it have any "hum" to it, or just a sort of chugging sound? Check the fluid level, add a dose of Friction Modifier, if the L.S. clutches are grumbling, that should clear it up. imp

Noise increases with speed and is constant. First heard at about 30 mph and up. It is not the clutches, had fluid changed with modifier, did not decrease the noise. No noise on turns.

Could it be tires worn a bit unevenly?

 

[swshawaii]

Gen 3 are notorious for failed rear hub bearings. If it's rotational noise that changes with speed I'd start there.

Tires usually don't make "grinding" noises. IMO, find other independent specialists that are better informed. GL

 

[imp]

Noise increases with speed and is constant. First heard at about 30 mph and up. It is not the clutches, had fluid changed with modifier, did not decrease the noise. No noise on turns.

Could it be tires worn a bit unevenly?

I had a kind of grumbling noise which changed very little with speed, was only mildly aggravating (or frightening), on trip of 4000 miles it was getting worse, I surely thought differential bearings, due to low frequency of the sound. Got home, put truck up on jacks, punched 4X4 High, let her run in D, probed with stethoscope pinion bearings, (OK), diff bearings, OK, both axle ends. Turned out the sound came from the left rear axle bearing. Yanked things apart, here's how the left rear axle bearing outer race looked:

I drove this truck several thousand miles after I first detected noise. The bearing rollers were rumbling over the spalled area on the outer race. Millions of times. I could have sworn rear gear bearings were the cause, but was wrong. Happy I found the bearing noise. Use your ears to pinpoint location of noise. imp

 

[rocco123]

When you say axle bearing you are talking wheel bearing right? I have a similar sound in my 02. Does not go away if I go into a left or right turn. Have changed all wheel bearings twice for them being worn, but this sound doesn't seem like a wheel bearing.