Ring Gear Hum noise, AGAIN!!!

EPIC CAJUN · May 12, 2015

So over the weekend my ring gear starting humming again between 60-65 mph. Ive had this issue addressed once before when I had 5,000 miles on my truck. Now I have 12,000 and the noise is back. I brought my truck today to a different dealer (around the corner from my office) for an oil change and they are opening up a "Case File" with GM. While filling out the paperwork at check in the service guy asked if there were any other issues or noises they needed to look at while in there. So I told him. I told him I wasn't ready to leave it with them for an extended period of time this week but wanted to get the process started to get this problem fixed again.They are keeping my truck today for some test with the head service guy for the dealership.

Can anyone tell me what all this entails? Ive never heard of a Case File or had to bring in a vehicle for an issue more than once for that matter. Is this something the dealership does because the issue was not resolved by a previous dealer and is no big deal or is this more along the lines of a lemon law protection issue for GM?

Am I in for a battle to get this resolved?

Thanks for the help.

GMCustomerService · May 13, 2015

Hi EPIC CAJUN,

To clarify, a case file is a permanent record which documents the interactions a GM employee has with a customer regarding his/her concern. Creating a case allows our internal resources to further review the information that has been provided. If you would like me to contact your dealership to further discuss your case, please send us a private message.

Thank you,

Kayla K.

GM Customer Care

So over the weekend my ring gear starting humming again between 60-65 mph. Ive had this issue addressed once before when I had 5,000 miles on my truck. Now I have 12,000 and the noise is back. I brought my truck today to a different dealer (around the corner from my office) for an oil change and they are opening up a "Case File" with GM. While filling out the paperwork at check in the service guy asked if there were any other issues or noises they needed to look at while in there. So I told him. I told him I wasn't ready to leave it with them for an extended period of time this week but wanted to get the process started to get this problem fixed again.They are keeping my truck today for some test with the head service guy for the dealership.

Can anyone tell me what all this entails? Ive never heard of a Case File or had to bring in a vehicle for an issue more than once for that matter. Is this something the dealership does because the issue was not resolved by a previous dealer and is no big deal or is this more along the lines of a lemon law protection issue for GM?

Am I in for a battle to get this resolved?

Thanks for the help.

fondupot · May 14, 2015

How are you sure it's your gears?

EPIC CAJUN · May 14, 2015

Based on the noise its currently making. Sound is identical to the noise it made last time when the dealer replaced the pinion and ring gear. Im sure it can be something else thats humming/whining but it only makes the noise when you are a a steady speed with foot on the gas. If you let off the noise stops. Its instant on and off with the gas peddle.

mykalx2 · May 30, 2015

I just purchased my new 2015 Silverado in February, and it started making a noticeable humming sound whenever the truck is over 40 mph and my foot is off the accelerator. I checked to see if it could possibly be the truck changing form 8-4 cylinders but that wasn't it. Have any of you guys experienced this problem? The dealer has the truck in for servicing and the "loaner" doesn't make that sound. both trucks are 2015 crew cabs, same engine, same tranny.

pm26 · May 31, 2015

Based on the noise its currently making. Sound is identical to the noise it made last time when the dealer replaced the pinion and ring gear. Im sure it can be something else thats humming/whining but it only makes the noise when you are a a steady speed with foot on the gas. If you let off the noise stops. Its instant on and off with the gas peddle.

Based on your description, the noise is definitely caused by differential gears. I have seen them make noise when only under load, and also only when coasting. It all comes down to improper backlash setting and shimming of gears. sometimes using higher viscosity gear lube like 80W140 helps quiet down the noise. however, they only recommend higher viscosity lube for hotter climates or for heavy loading of the differential, such as towing.

EPIC CAJUN · June 2, 2015

I just purchased my new 2015 Silverado in February, and it started making a noticeable humming sound whenever the truck is over 40 mph and my foot is off the accelerator. I checked to see if it could possibly be the truck changing form 8-4 cylinders but that wasn't it. Have any of you guys experienced this problem? The dealer has the truck in for servicing and the "loaner" doesn't make that sound. both trucks are 2015 crew cabs, same engine, same tranny.

Sounds like you have the same issue as me. Does it only make the noise at a certain MPH range? Say 40-44 mph and only when foot on the peddle? Thats what mine was doing when I had the pinion and ring gear replaced. The dealer said the 8 (i think) bolts around the ring gear and the pinion backlash both were way off from spec. It actually took them two attempts at getting it right where the noise was completely gone. So this will be the third attempt at the fix.

LongrangeLauber · June 2, 2015

Sounds like you have the same issue as me. Does it only make the noise at a certain MPH range? Say 40-44 mph and only when foot on the peddle? Thats what mine was doing when I had the pinion and ring gear replaced. The dealer said the 8 (i think) bolts around the ring gear and the pinion backlash both were way off from spec. It actually took them two attempts at getting it right where the noise was completely gone. So this will be the third attempt at the fix.

12 bolts should be holding the ring gear to the carrier. GM usually makes them so the number of bolts to hold the cover to the axle housing is the same as the ring gear bolts

EPIC CAJUN · June 2, 2015

Gotcha. Its been a while since I looked at the paperwork so I couldn't recall how many bolts it stated.

20L8TSierra24 · June 2, 2015

Mine makes as whine when I'm coasting in drive to a stoplight. Both of my 14s did it so I'm assuming it's normal. I have 100k drive line warranty and I'll probably have a new truck bore my 5 years or 100 is up. Nothing I'm loosing sleep over.

Sierra Jon · December 9, 2015

My symptoms are a little different. The humming is consistent with speed. Acceleration or deceleration have no effect. It can be heard above 30 mph and is loudest at 45 or so... Still hums at higher speeds but can't really hear it as much due to road noise. I have a 14 with 48k miles and I'm furious about it. It's going in on Monday, my birthday, happy birthday to me!...

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WLC · December 9, 2015

One of my trucks whines around 50 mph. Playing with the throttle makes it start and stop. Whines when you let off the throttle. Grandpa's 56 Chevy whine was louder but it never came apart. Miss that whine and grandpa! Still remember putting gas in through the drop down taillight.

pm26 · December 10, 2015

Mine makes as whine when I'm coasting in drive to a stoplight. Both of my 14s did it so I'm assuming it's normal. I have 100k drive line warranty and I'll probably have a new truck bore my 5 years or 100 is up. Nothing I'm loosing sleep over.

Well, it isn't exactly normal because most properly assembled differentials are quiet, but in a mild case it will not hurt anything. I talked to a Nissan tech about this same issue years ago and some older Nissan Z cars had a noticeable rear differential whine. Nissan tried to quiet the differentials by recommending thicker viscosity rear end lube, like 80W140 instead of 80W90. This works well for hot climates, but not for winter weather up north because the oil gets too thick. My 1995 Nissan truck had a slight whine in the rear differential when coasting only. It did not get worse over 70k miles of so I put on the truck after they replaced the original differential which whined only under load, causing more annoying steady whine. I tried the heavier lube as suggested, and it did quiet the differential a little, but it seems to hurt my fuel economy a little in colder months.

Sierra Jon · December 14, 2015

My symptoms are a little different. The humming is consistent with speed. Acceleration or deceleration have no effect. It can be heard above 30 mph and is loudest at 45 or so... Still hums at higher speeds but can't really hear it as much due to road noise. I have a 14 with 48k miles and I'm furious about it. It's going in on Monday, my birthday, happy birthday to me!...

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Truck is in today. They think it's wheel bearings. It is covered under power train warranty. Fingers crossed.

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Update: was not covered but they split the cost with me... Had the seat shim and wheel bearings done at the same time for 225.