Squeak / Chirp in Rear Axle Pinion (Differential)

OxFORD

New Member
Joined
Feb 18, 2012
Location
North Carolina
Some background ... I have a 2006 Ford F-250 Super Crew Lariat FX4 6.0L PSD. I took the truck into a shop and had a bad set of pinion bearings replaced. The shop did not get the preload right (too loose), and I had a decel noise in the rear end. The preload was tightened, and the noise went away.

After about a week (and after a towing trip), a new noise showed up. This time, it's a squeak / chirping sound. At first, I swore it was the brakes; however, after jacking the rear axle up and running the truck in drive, the sound was pinpointed at the rear axle pinion area.

The noise only occurs on decel after the pumpkin has warmed. I can let off the pedal and the squeak / chirping sound will start at a frequency thats relavent to the drive speed.

I suspected the drive shaft carrier bearing, but it was quiet. I also suspected the u-joints (a typical source of squeaks), but I replaced all of my u-joints with Spicer's (5-801x's) less than 10k miles ago.

Has anyone else had an experience with this sort of noise out of a 10.5" Sterling (or any other diff)? Should I replace the rear joint "again" or tighten the preload just a tad?

Does anybody know of a "good" Diff shop near Fayetteville/Ft. Bragg?
 
Just guessing here, but lube the U-joints, just to be sure. Could disconnect the driveshaft, but doubt you could turn the rear enough by hand to get the squeak. Sounds like a "do over".
Maybe the pinion nut has backed off, & let the preload off again,or the bearing was damaged, the first time, the preload was incorrect.
 
rodney eppes said:
Just guessing here, but lube the U-joints, just to be sure. Could disconnect the driveshaft, but doubt you could turn the rear enough by hand to get the squeak. Sounds like a "do over".
Maybe the pinion nut has backed off, & let the preload off again,or the bearing was damaged, the first time, the preload was incorrect.
Click to expand...

Yeah ... I have the Spicer "Lifetime" joints ... there's not a zerk. I actually tighten the preload again just a hair ... the noise remained afterwards.

I'm thinking a possible do-over as well; reckon it'd be worth replacing that rear Spicer (nearest pumpkin) just to rule that out? I know the noise is from that area kind of hard to pinpoint if its the joint or pinion (althought I suspect the pinion).
 
I would definitely NOT recommend tweaking the pinion preload on your own, without checking it with an in-lb wrench. Too loose will tear stuff up long term, maybe make some noise in the short term... but too tight will burn it up in a hurry. And once it's snug, it only take a tiny tweak on the nut to get big differences in preload drag.

ECGS is in Raleigh, not too far away from Fayetteville.
 
Got a few shops in Nam. Wilsons Offroad / Performance Offroad / Get Ugly Offroad ( which is closer to raeford )

If it was a cruiser i would look at it but i am only good on them.
 
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