8.8 on its way out????

[carlover]

A few days ago my 8.8 starting making a whining/wailing noise. It only does it after about 35 mph and will continue as long as i have my foot on the gas. If i take it off and coast it will go away. Also makes some noise at 5mph and below when coming to a stop. Any ideas??

 

[Glen4X4]

That don't sound like your rear if its only doing it while on the accelerator.

 

[carlover]

Damn from the reading i just did it does look like its the R&P. Just my luck.

 

[mounty71]

I am by far no expert, but could it be the pinion bearing? My rearend still makes noise from getting my gears set up and i am pretty confident its the pinion bearing, and it sounds similar to what you are hearing.

 

[carlover]

Ive actually read that the pinion bearing can wear and cause the pinion depth to change. Im not sure if that makes any sense, but i dont know much about gears so i have no idea. Im hoping it holds out 6-8 weeks so i can get the money together for 4.56's and a tru-trac. Or maybe a 9" since the cost would be about the same to build either one..

 

[mounty71]

Ya i don't know much about gears either, but i've heard that once the pinion bearing goes, the damage has already been done. I still gotta get back to my mechanic and get this figured out. And he said it was fine...

But a 9" sounds like the perfect solution for you since you'll be building the rear end of the truck anyway.

 

[carlover]

Yeah i just gotta do the research and see what 9" is what width and so forth. I just hope it holds together until i can get the funds together for a new one, or the explorer will be sitting Again...

 

[Glen4X4]

I didn't think it would be since it only did it on acceleration but I aint no expert neither.

 

[carlover]

I didn't think it would be since it only did it on acceleration but I aint no expert neither.

Thats the only time there is really a "load" on the gears is the way i was reading it.

 

[CDW6212R]

Pull the rear cover and check the fluid and gears. If they aren't hurt it may need something less than gears, like the pinion bearing or R&P clearance adjustment. The desired spec is .009-.012", OEM calls for .007-.015, good luck.

 

[Glen4X4]

Thats the only time there is really a "load" on the gears is the way i was reading it.

Yeah, I didn't think about it in that sense.

 

[carlover]

Pull the rear cover and check the fluid and gears. If they aren't hurt it may need something less than gears, like the pinion bearing or R&P clearance adjustment. The desired spec is .009-.012", OEM calls for .007-.015, good luck.

Im gonna pull the cover tonite hopefully. I hope its something simple, but gears are on of the few areas on a vehicle that i have no clue on.

 

[Dannyboy]

start with your driveshaft u-joint, it could be as simple as that.

 

[carlover]

start with your driveshaft u-joint, it could be as simple as that.

What would i check on that? To much play?

 

[CDW6212R]

Good call Danny, any visual inspection is the first best step in looking for a problem.

 

[IZwack]

El driveshaftooo ell jointoo (thats all the Spanish I can muster up so I'm going to quite while I'm ahead) will often make a chirping sound when it's about to die like a devil bird. It'll go chirp-chirp-chirp with each rotation as the center "cross" grinds against the cap w/o proper lubrication (audible at human walking or running speeds).

 

[carlover]

El driveshaftooo ell jointoo (thats all the Spanish I can muster up so I'm going to quite while I'm ahead) will often make a chirping sound when it's about to die like a devil bird. It'll go chirp-chirp-chirp with each rotation as the center "cross" grinds against the cap w/o proper lubrication (audible at human walking or running speeds).

Lol is is bad that i understood every word of that?? Thanks for the advice, i will be checking those things out for sure. Im hoping that its something this simple and not the actual gears. if it is the gears however i have a reputable gear installer gonna do them for 450$ installed.

 

[mounty71]

That's $450 including the cost of gears?

 

[carlover]

Yep and the cost of rebuilding the trac loc with more clutches to make it a little better.

 

[gijoecam]

A whine when on the gas is pretty typical of a bad pinion bearing. Taking your foot off the gas changes the thrust on the pinion and puts the load on the other pinion bearing. Loading the gears in one direction (e.g. when accelerating or maintaining speed) tries to push the pinion out of the case, and loading them in the opposite direction (e.g. coasting or reversing) tries to force them back into the case, loading the other bearing. It'll get progressively worse until it goes ka-blooey at the most inconvenient time.

It *could* be a u-joint too, but IMHO, it's probably the pinion bearings. Any good driveline shop should be able to easily distinguish between the two on a test drive.

-Joe