I was driving home the other night and noticed a unusual whine coming from my rear. Most people would be very alarmed at this noise but I was for a different reason. The rear whines at 50 and sometimes when I slow down due to the 4.56's in the rear. This was at 80 and then the ABS light came on. After parking the truck I noticed the the smell and for anyone who has changed their diff fluid you know what I am talking about. I look undert the truck and there was diff fluid. In ther morning I took another look before taking it to the shop that install my gears and noticed dents on the back side of the diff cover where the ring is. Not looking good. Got it to the shop with ABS light still gleaming and they said that they would take a look at it. After opeing it up and $610 later where is what was found. Some of the raindeer(SP) bolts that hold the ring to a plate in the diff had broken and were busted up in the rear(metal fragments floating around in diff oil). Next the ABS sensor had come apart and the coil in that sensor was wrapped around the gears and posi. After all was said and done the posi, bearings, and diff cover needed replacing, but the gears were ok. Yes the gears made and so did the Rear end. I figured I drove at least 150 miles before I notcied this and still my truck ran without a hint of a problem. Some may say you didn't notice whrn it happened. I tell you that I WOULD notice. It just goes to show you how well Ford makes thier rear. Just thought I would share my story. I LOVE my Ford. Sorry it is so much to read.

 

JUST ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO MY FORD F150 4X4 YR.2000 MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. IT TOOK FOREVER AND A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY FOR SOME ONE TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS MY DIFFERENTIAL BEARINGS AND I NEEDED NEW ONES. THEN ANOTHER PROBLEM WHO EVER WORKED ON MY TRUCK BEFORE I OWNED IT PUT IN TOO MUCH SHIMS IN THE REAR END DIFF CASING. ONE OF THE SHIMS WAS MULTILATED AND METAL SHAVINGS IN MY GEAR OIL WHEN DRAINED. IT WAS FIXED WITH 8 SHIMS LESS AND RUNNING FINE, BUT NOW ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF I GOT AN AWFUL WHINING NOISE COMING FROM REAR END ONCE I ACCELARATE TO 50MPH. AND MY DARN ABS LIGHT IS ON AND ON ALL THE TIME TILL I TURN OFF THE ENGINE. CAN U BY ANY CHANCE TELL ME WHAT TO DO OR WHAT TO LOOK FOR. TAHNKS. SORRY FOR THE LONG STORY. HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

 

What gears are in your axels? Stock, what? Mine whines slightly at 45-55 cruising with just enough gas to keep up the speed. This is due to the cut of my 4.56 gears. My ABS sensor came on cuz the part broke apart. The sensor plugs into the top of the pumpkin so check to make sure it is ok. Whic bearing where replaced? Inner or outer bearings? Please give me a little more info, I would love to help if I can.

 

THE GEARS IN THE REAR END IS ALL FROM THE MANUFACTOR, BUT THE DIFFERENTIAL SHIMS THAT WAS USED WAS NOT. IT WAS WEAK AND VERY VERY THIN. ONE OF THE SHIMS WAS TWISTED LIKE I SAID IN THE LAST REPLY AND I HAD SOME ENGRAVINGS ON THE INSIDE OF MY REAR END DIFF. COVER. I LOOKED AT THE SENSOR PLUG ON THE DIFF. AND IT LOOK FINE, BUT TOMORROW I'M GOING TO GO UNDER THE TRUCK AGAIN AND CHECK IT OUT AGAIN. I'M HOPING IT'S JUST THE SENSOR PLUG AND NOT ANYTHING REALLY MAJOR. MY WHINING NOISE IS GETTING A BIT LOUDER ALSO. DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE GEARS IN THE REAR END OR IS IT THE REAR AXLE?

 

SORRY TO KEEP BOTHERING YOU, BUT DO YOU KNOW BY ANY CHANCE IF THE EXCITOR RING IN THE REAR END IS THE SAME THING WHAT THEY CALL A SPEED SENSOR RING??? I KNOW ONLY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE TRUCKS AND BRONCOS HAVE AN EXCITOR RING THAT'S USED FOR THE REAR SENSOR (ANTI-LOCK) TO SENSE THE SPEED AND SO FORTH.... I CAN'T SEEM TO FIND IT IN ANY ONLINE PARTS CATALOG. THANKS FOR ANY HELP!!!

 

Don't worry about bothering me. I like helping people if I can. As for the exciter/tone ring I am not exactly sure what it is. I have a gerneral knowledge of autos and never heard of it. Noises in the rear can be a lot of things. Could be gears, bearings, low fluid, ect. Your best bet it to take it to a shop and have them take a look at it. The shop I go to out here charges $75 to change the rear fluid and I am sure to look at what is on the inside would not cost more than that. If you want to try and fix the problem yourself you could always open up the pumpkin and see if you have a bit of shavings in there and if you don't see anything wrong put the cover back on and fill'r up. Drive it for a while and if you still have problems take it to an expert. Feel free to ask as many questions as you want.

 

MAKA,

Ford calls it an antilock speed sensor ring. Other places may call it that or an exciter ring.
For the noise it is easier to refer you to the following site. http://www.ring-pinion.com/tech/techind.html

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

THANKS FOR THE INFO. AND THE PICTURE GALLERY. YOU GOT A NICE TRUCK. I WISH WE GOT SNOW LIKE THAT HERE IN HAWAII. WE DO GET SNOW, BUT IT'S ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE AND IT'S UP HIGH ON THE MOUNTAIN. TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS.