I have a 2002 Ford F150 and it started making a squeaking noise, coming from the rear of the truck. It only does it when I go in reverse, it doesn't make the noise going forward. I took it to a shop and they said there say some play in the rear end. My question is should i replace the entire rear axle, just the differential, or just rebuild the differential? Any help or guidance would be very much appreciated.

 

You would probably save money if you bought a used one and put it on there.
Just be sure of the gear ratio of the used one as compared to the original.

I think I would get a second opinion though. Brakes or a U joint can cause a squeak. I wouldn't define any noise I've ever heard come from a differential as a squeak.

 

its your u joints had that same problem i just replaced them no more noise, it was drving me nuts for a few weeks finally i asked on here and someone told me, so i replaced them no more noise that shop is full of **** they dont know what they are talking about just replace the U joints and you should be fine

 

I'll get the truck back from the shop and look at the u-joints. All they told my when they called earlier was that their was a little bit of play in the rear end, so the rear end was going out.

 

every truck has a little play in the rear end all my trucks have they has to be play or every thing would be to tense and stuff would break, i highly reccomend replacing the universal joints you will be happy with the results

 

Thanks Mud Digger, I'm gonna get the truck back in the morning and change out the u-joints. I'll let you know the results. Thanks again for your info.

 

Seems like every f150 ive owned had some play in the rear. Never squeaked though. I would think brakes, e brake maybe or u joints

 

you can have someone reshim the differential and tighten up the clearances

 

I've not done much work on differentials. I was wondering, do the shims go in between the pinion gear and housing? Or in the cage somewhere?
How do you get the specs, or measure the tolerances?

Thanks

 

I'd say check the ebrakes too. Sometimes they bind up so that in reverse they'll make a squeek or squeel.

 

Definately the U-joints. Mine did the same thing for a while then started doing it in drive and reverse. Replace them with greasable ones if you can.

 

I didn't know that. Thanks. Always wondered if there was a way to tighten it up without having them redone.

 

they go between the differential cage and the axle housing, they move the ring gear left or right depending on which way you shim it. You add shims on the left, and remove shims (thickness) to tighten up the clearances.

You'd need a good dial indicator, box of shims, micrometer, and a calculator.

 

I've got the tools, I've just never done the set up myself.
Thanks

 

Well I changed out the u-joints and to my amazement, no more squeaking. So thanks to everyone for their help. So the next task was replacing the rear brakes and getting the rear discs turned. So it took about 3 hours to get the rear discs off, with the help of a heavy duty puller I got them off. Will finish that job off in the morning and then off to get the catalytic converters replaced.