Whine from rear differential

[xdviper]

at that's what it sounds like it's coming from... While driving at either 55MPH-65MPH + I can hear the differential just making a whining noise and stop when I let go off the gas. There's been a light audible whine coming from it for a few years while coasting at 30mph, but that's been like that for years and have ignored it, and wasn't as loud as this. What could be wrong with it? Thanks

 

[wisekise]

i had the same noise in my x. it turned out to be all the bearings (except the axle bearings) in the rear diff. i went ahead and put a bearing diff rebuild kit in the front and rear, b/c i just rolled over 145k

 

[Cobraguy]

When it goes away on the coast side, it's normally a carrier bearing (left side if I recall) or a ring and pinion. Bearing is usually the cause. That side is getting loaded harder under acceleration. It's possible it's pinion bearings, but they usually don't go away on coast. They change pitch, but are usually there.

 

[Benji-Man]

I was always (approx 30k miles) thinking the whining was coming from the front bearings, until one afternoon I noticed my axle seal leaking on the drivers side. This made me start to think and dismantle.

This is from my post on 2/25/08.
Also when on highway and doing 75+ mph and changed lanes quickly my abs light would come on. This led me to the the rear differential. I pulled the diff. cover off and found alot of shavings and found the differential carrier bearings were toast. Due to the differential floating from left to right I pulled both axles unbolted saddle clamps that held diff bearings, keep track of which sides the shims come out of for reinstall. I took differential to carquest and had them press two new bearing on, I thoroughly flushed the axle tubes and swabed them with giant sized Q-tip made by myself and flushed diff. housing, checked the front pinion bearing for play, it was still fine.

Full list of replaced parts:
two inner diff. carrier bearings
two outer wheel bearings
two outer wheel seals
had to replace one of my pac shims
refilled with syn gear oil

have driven 40,000 since and no abs light and no surging/ bump from behind

 

[xdviper]

Thanks guys, I'll have a look at it over the weekend.