Differential Bearing Replacement
#1
Differential Bearing Replacement
I am tired of listening to the diff whine on my 99 4.6 3.73 Supercab. I replaced the axle bearings with saver bearings last summer as the stocks had gone bad. I used the saver bearings to avoid replacing the axles as they had a bit of a groove beginning to wear into them.
I have heard that the pinion bearing is often the cause of the whine, and I'd like to start by replacing that. Will it be necessary to replace the other two bearing sets in the differential too or are those usually not the problem? I'd really hate to just replace the pinion bearing and have to tear the thing apart again to replace more bearings.
Also, I'm due to graduate this spring (maybe summer...) so I'll be buying another truck sometime next winter. Aside from the noise and harm the whine will do to the resale value, I'm fairly certain that there will no other consequences of just leaving it be. Am I correct in this assumption?
I'd also like to know any other known causes of the infamous F series diff whine.
I have heard that the pinion bearing is often the cause of the whine, and I'd like to start by replacing that. Will it be necessary to replace the other two bearing sets in the differential too or are those usually not the problem? I'd really hate to just replace the pinion bearing and have to tear the thing apart again to replace more bearings.
Also, I'm due to graduate this spring (maybe summer...) so I'll be buying another truck sometime next winter. Aside from the noise and harm the whine will do to the resale value, I'm fairly certain that there will no other consequences of just leaving it be. Am I correct in this assumption?
I'd also like to know any other known causes of the infamous F series diff whine.
#3
I have seen that TSB. I suppose I ought to get a price from a dealer and send the parts list to a part shop and get quotes.
The whine is at its worse between 45-50 (around 80 kmh). It begins near 40 then worsens and gets better above 49 mph. It is present at all times after that, but not as loud.
The whine is at its worse between 45-50 (around 80 kmh). It begins near 40 then worsens and gets better above 49 mph. It is present at all times after that, but not as loud.
#4
#5
Get back up to the speed you say it's happening at, go on and off the gas and if the whine comes and goes with that, it's the ring and pinion. 99.9% of the diff noise concerns I worked on at the dealer were ring and pinion. If you were just gonna replace bearings, it's best to do the pinion and sides at the same time but not absolutely neccesary.
#6
I have seen ring and pinion bearing kits for about $110, but I shouldn't need a all the shims and bolts. It should just be a matter of pulling and pressing a bearing, right?
Will the ring and pinion show excessive wear if the pinion bearings are loose? In my experience, the components will move back and forth if the bearings are shot. Is this the way to diagnose loose pinion bearings?
Get back up to the speed you say it's happening at, go on and off the gas and if the whine comes and goes with that, it's the ring and pinion. 99.9% of the diff noise concerns I worked on at the dealer were ring and pinion. If you were just gonna replace bearings, it's best to do the pinion and sides at the same time but not absolutely neccesary.
#7
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#8
Assuming that everything is stock, the truck has 3.73s. I bought it used 5.5 years ago just before I got my license. I could swear that the ratio feels lower than 3.73, so it may have 4.10s on it. That may be possible as the previous owner was an avid mechanic/truck enthusiast.