Ringing/whine sound from the rear axle when cold??

[sjspor]

Has anyone else had a metal ring or whine that sounds like it's coming from the rear axle when it's cold.  Basicaly if its below 30 degrees, when the truck is first run between 25 and 40 mph you'll hear a ringing sound from the back of the truck as you speed up.

If you slow back down it will happen too.  Once things warm a bit, it stops.  

 

The dealer replace the rear parking brake shoes, and it howled right after that, but since has just fallen back into its normal pattern, that the dealer can't hear.

 

Truck is an 01 EXT cab 2WD, 4.3 and 3.42 limited slip rear.

 

Thanks....

[2001 HD]

Could be "Harmonic" vibration from exhaust system or exhaust heat sheild. ???

[Z71GUY]

This may not be the case, but worth checking.  Not too long my truck would have this high pitched noise coming from the rear end.  It was very loud at low speeds and would get quiet at highway speeds.  Well, one day it got extremely loud...I turned around for home.  After tearing my rear wheels off, I found that I had a small rock wedged in between my rear disc brake & the "disc brake shield".  I would assume the dealer would have found this when they did the parking brake...but you never know with them...    

 

EDIT:  I see they replaced the parking brake shoes (I did not read the whole post....shame on me)  This should have de-lodged anything stuck there..

 

 

Eric

[QUIKAG]

I have a new 2004 Silverado LT 5.3 with 3.73's in the back and I'm having the same sound. It has been chilly the past few days here in Dallas. When I first start driving the car, there is a whine coming from somewhere. When I'm creeping along going slow speed and I lift off the throttle, it'll whine a little bit, then as soon as I get back on the throttle, it stops whining.

 

This happens for a minute or so and then it goes away. Any idea what it may be?

[COZWV]

<font color='#000000'>This may not be the case, but worth checking.  Not too long my truck would have this high pitched noise coming from the rear end.  It was very loud at low speeds and would get quiet at highway speeds.  Well, one day it got extremely loud...I turned around for home.  After tearing my rear wheels off, I found that I had a small rock wedged in between my rear disc brake & the "disc brake shield".  I would assume the dealer would have found this when they did the parking brake...but you never know with them...    

 

EDIT:  I see they replaced the parking brake shoes (I did not read the whole post....shame on me)  This should have de-lodged anything stuck there..

 

 

Eric</font>

I got a "small cinder" in between the brake rotor and shield once. It was so loud it actually hurt your ears! I pulled into a gas station and EVERYBODY was looking at me! I'll never forget how high pitched and loud that was.

 

 

COZWV

[QUIKAG]

It can't be anything lodged in the rear end or brakes because the sound goes away after a minute or so. I'm thinking after the fluid in the rear differential warms up a bit and circulates through the rear-end.

[Bpot]

I agree with the heat shield or muffler noise, I've seen it loys. also there is a body shield just above the muffler. try stuffing some foam above it (non flamable of course) and see if it goes away.

[QUIKAG]

It is not anything related to the heat shield or muffler/exhaust. I'm beginning to believe it's thick fluid in the transmission that is causing the whine for the first minute or two when the truck is cold.

 

Does anyone else have this noise on cold mornings?

[bigBP]

Over christmas replaced my rear open diff with a detroit truetrac, putting in new fluid afterward. Noticed afterward the same whinning noise. It's present from anywhere between 20 and 55 mph, especially when decelerating.

[QUIKAG]

I have the stock locking G80 differential with 3.73 gears all from the factory. So, is this sound normal for a factory rear-end or transmission in cold weather?

[Riddell]

Got the same problem??? is it possible its a U-joint or center carrier bearing? in the coldest weather the noise is their, but when it warms up it goes away??

[traxion]

hope something isnt chewing up the ring and pinion. check that at last resort.

[stef8]

"The dealer replace the rear parking brake shoes, and it howled right after that"

 

I would definitely go back to the dealer since the rear axles had to be removed

to get to the parking brake shoes, maybe they did not put back enough oil in the

diff or simply not the right kind...

[sparky0484]

I know this is an old thread. Has anyone found out anything new on this? My truck seems to do the same thing. It's intermittent so I'm having problems diagnosing it. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

[kdm101]

I know this is an old thread.  Has anyone found out anything new on this?  My truck seems to do the same thing.  It's intermittent so I'm having problems diagnosing it.  Any help would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I've been reading on threads over at the SSR board where I'm a member that discusses the same thing. On the SSR, the whining is definitely being produced by the rear differential, but the drive shaft was amplifying it to the point of being distracting. Some members got a new custom made driveshaft and report a much much quieter ride. I could see that being the case here too until things warmed up just enough to change clearances.

 

Woohoo! This post made #100 for me!