Rear end whine

[p38fln]

So I know this is probably the differential, but what are the odds of something bad happening? The noise doesn't bother me at all.

I get a whining sound from the rear end that sounds very similar to a steel belted radial on a hot day, but it only does it when its under load (Accelerating, going up-hill, etc).

It's a limited slip 3.73 rear end, and it binds up a bit when cold. The whining noise is much quieter after driving 50 or 60 miles, comes back after it cools off.

 

[imp]

So I know this is probably the differential, but what are the odds of something bad happening? The noise doesn't bother me at all.

I get a whining sound from the rear end that sounds very similar to a steel belted radial on a hot day, but it only does it when its under load (Accelerating, going up-hill, etc).

It's a limited slip 3.73 rear end, and it binds up a bit when cold. The whining noise is much quieter after driving 50 or 60 miles, comes back after it cools off.

Usually, gear tooth "whine" is quieter when cold, while the fluid is still thick. Yours is the opposite. You did not indicate whether the noise changed between straight-ahead driving or cornering. If worse when not going straight ahead, limited-slip clutch chatter may be the cause. If that's happening, try adding a few ounces of special limited-slip friction modifier. imp

 

[quitord]

2003 Explorer rear end whine

Had the same problem with my 2003 Eddie Bauer. Since we take a lot of long trips to go skiing almost every weekend, it was becoming unbearable. After much searching I found out it was the rear end. Local truck dismantler (Santa Clara Truck Wreckers in Santa Clara CA) works on these all the time. Said when Ford changed the rear end, sometime in the 2003 build cycle, the issue started. He replaced my rear end with another one from before the change over and - no more whine. Complete cost was around $900 and 2 days. Its over 2 years with the change and not a bit of whine. Well worth the investment for our "ski car".

 

[fireball 440]

Mine's been whining for over 30,000 miles.