Hi all , i have a 02 4x4 with 7,000mi and a 3.55 LS rear end and have developed what i guess is rear axle whine.

It's a slight but annoying whine which sounds loudest around 45 mph coasting or very slight gas pedal on levelish roads
also can hear the same whine under light throttle at 55 mph. I noticed the 45 mph whine when i bought it but brushed it off because it wasnt loud, now since its warmer outside i hear it more and more.

What are my chances the dealer will even hear it and fix it? They all seem to have "so called" hearing problems whenever you take them out to listen for noises. Its not loud , but noticeable with the stereo off and the windows up.

Chris

 

Hey Chris,

I have a 2001 with 20000 miles, no LS.

I feel for you about the Service Techs being deaf. It usually takes me about 3 rides with a tech before they possibly hear something.

I didn't really have a rear axel whine, I had more of a rotational rubbing/thumping noise. It took about a year befor it was resolved. They kept saying it was dirt/sand build up in the tires, or in the rear brakes, or a tire may be unbalanced.... etc. etc.

well, after all that other bull__it they finally reaplced the whole rear axel. Problem solved.

Now if I can ever solve the Tranny Thump/clunk!!!!!

My advice: Keep on them. Take the service manager for a ride. Even have him drive while you are a passenger. Sometimes we get tuned in to the sound from a specific location in the vehicle. If you still hear it as a passenger, it's there! Don't give up.

Tom

 

well, i'm not entirely positive but the rear axle whine at around 50 mph might be normal. my '02 with limited slip makes that noise too. it is unnoticeable below 45 mph and above say 53 mph. i'm not too worried about it but i'm gonna keep an eye (errr...ear) on it...

 

Sometime I wonder if im being too picky, i know its a truck, but ford has been producing rear axles for a LONG time and noise from the unit is really unacceptable if you ask me.

 

A thought? I thought I was getting a rearend whine also, turned out to the tires. Not noticeable until around 45. What finally tipped us off was there was a change in the 'whine' when the road surface changed (ie. going over a bridge that was paved in cement vs, the regular hiway blacktop at 55MPH).

I have BF Goodrich Radial Long Trail TA's, and to look at them, they don't look agressive enought to cause that much noice, but they do.

 

Larry- thought the tires but, if im holding a steady 55mph i hear the slight whine from the rear, as soon as i let off the gas to coast it goes away. That should rule out the tires.

 

i can definitely tell that the noise is gear whine and not the tires. it could be coming from the tranny, but i doubt it. btw, i think my axle whines whether or not i'm coasting, accelerating or going steady state...i'll have to check next time i'm out on the highway.

 

Troy, please let us know what you find out on the highway. I may take my truck to another dealer.

Chris

 

had that whine. It was a F150 with 3.55 open. dealer said the rearend needed to be rebuilt. I said, thanks, now what'll give me trade'in? they said a low figure, so i moved on and got 200 less then what i paid for it a year earlier. Seriously. Now, my F250 superduty with the 10.5 Sterling rearend with 3.73 Limited slip doesn't whine, it just screams "haul more" LMAO..

Keep on em. they still have problems

Good luck

 

chris, i was right. mine does it whether i'm accelerating or coasting, but it is slightly more noticeable when coasting. i've got lots of warranty left so i'm not in a big hurry to do anything about, unless it worsens.

 

Troy, what speeds is it most noticable for you?.. mine is around 53-55mph light throttle. If im going up a hill at these speeds it becomes louder.

 

mine is most noticeable around 50 mph...don't know whether it is louder going up a hill or not...

 

chrislee,

I had the same problem, I took it in and under warrenty they replaced just about everything but the pumkin.

 

sgeysbek, did it take care of the problem?

 

screwfun, yours does the same thing too?