rear pinion seal leak, humming from rear end
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Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 7
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From: Wisconsin
rear pinion seal leak, humming from rear end
I am new to this site and am hoping someone could help me with a problem that I am having with my 2000 F150 supercab 4X4. My truck has been wonderful except for one nagging problem...recurrent rear pinion seal leaks and a humming noise from the rear end at 40-45 mph and at 50-55 mph. In addition, I also appreciate a similar humming noise from what sounds like the right front end at 60-65 mph.
The first rear pinion seal leak was discovered when I went in for an oil change almost 2 years ago (38,000 miles). The dealer replaced the seal. Two months later, I experienced a progressively worsening grinding noise from the rear end. After multiple trips to the dealer, they finally repalced the ring and pinion which did decrease the grinding. (Apparently the rear pinion seal had leaked again and caused damage to the rear end.) At this time, I began to notice the right front end noise. My tires were replaced at 45,00 miles, so I know that's not the problem. One year after the initial leak, the seal leaked again. Again, it was replaced by the dealer. Due to persisting humming from the rear end, the dealer again replaced the ring and pinion. This didn't help. It actually just changed the speed at which I heard the hum. After multiple trips back to the dealer, Ford agreed to give me an extended warranty until they figured out what was going on. Well, it's been almost two years now since the start of the problem and yet another rear pinion seal replacement last month, and still no permanent fix. While the dealer has picked up all costs except for the original seal repair, I am still left with a truck that isn't right.
Any explanations? Are there any adjustments the dealer can make to the rear end to get rid of the humming once and for all? Like I said above, the last time they changed the ring and pinion, the noise was appreciated at a different speed than it was prior the work being done. What can I do to get rid of the rear pinion seal leaks once and for all? The seal seems to go every 6000 miles or so.
I appreciate anyone's input.
The first rear pinion seal leak was discovered when I went in for an oil change almost 2 years ago (38,000 miles). The dealer replaced the seal. Two months later, I experienced a progressively worsening grinding noise from the rear end. After multiple trips to the dealer, they finally repalced the ring and pinion which did decrease the grinding. (Apparently the rear pinion seal had leaked again and caused damage to the rear end.) At this time, I began to notice the right front end noise. My tires were replaced at 45,00 miles, so I know that's not the problem. One year after the initial leak, the seal leaked again. Again, it was replaced by the dealer. Due to persisting humming from the rear end, the dealer again replaced the ring and pinion. This didn't help. It actually just changed the speed at which I heard the hum. After multiple trips back to the dealer, Ford agreed to give me an extended warranty until they figured out what was going on. Well, it's been almost two years now since the start of the problem and yet another rear pinion seal replacement last month, and still no permanent fix. While the dealer has picked up all costs except for the original seal repair, I am still left with a truck that isn't right.
Any explanations? Are there any adjustments the dealer can make to the rear end to get rid of the humming once and for all? Like I said above, the last time they changed the ring and pinion, the noise was appreciated at a different speed than it was prior the work being done. What can I do to get rid of the rear pinion seal leaks once and for all? The seal seems to go every 6000 miles or so.
I appreciate anyone's input.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,761
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Drop the rear cover and check for metal shavings in the bottom of the housing, check the backlash, and check the wear pattern. If you can't do this, have a specialty driveline shop do the evaluation and take their findings to your repair shop of choice.