Strange rear end noise and....

[aldive]

About a month ago, a strange noise developed in my trucks rear end. This was more prevalent on turns.

The noise was a knocking/grinding noise’ not very noticeable but definitely present.

I checked the fluid level and all was fine.

Recently I had to replace the rear axel ABS sensor. After removing the sensor, I noticed quite a bit of fine metal “flakesâ€￾ on the sensor. The noise has vanashed.

I am going to remove the cover and change the fluid as soon as my Amsoil order arrives.

Any ideas wht could have caused this?

Thanks.....

 

[Alec]

I'm thinking either your spider gears or the carrier bearings most likely. If it happens on turns in either direction then it's not the axle bearings, and if it doesn't happen only on accel or only on decel it's not a pinion bearing. Does road speed have an effect?

 

[aldive]

Does road speed have an effect?

It was only noticable when driving very slow in town.

 

[aldive]

I dropped the diff cover and drained the fluid. There was NO metal flakes in the fluid or on the fill plug.

Wierd.... based on what I saw on the ABS sensor, I would have bet the farm there would be a lot inside the dif.

Perplexed.... any thoughts?

 

[Alec]

Do you have a LS?

 

[aldive]

Do you have a LS?

Yes and I am leaning that way as to the problem.

Suggestions?????

 

[Alec]

Either it needs to be rebuilt or replaced, or your fluid doesn't have enough/the proper LS additive.