Rear Axle Noise

In axle work, one of the most difficult areas to diagnose is noise. Locating a broken axle shaft or broken differential gear presents little or no problem, but locating and isolating axle noise can be an entirely different matter.

Any gear driven unit, especially An automotive drive axle where engine torque multiplication occurs at a 90° turn in the driveling, produces a certain amount of noise. Therefore, an interpretation must be made for each vehicle to determine whether the noise is normal or if a problem actually exists. A normal amount of noise must be expected and cannot be eliminated by conventional repairs or adjustment.

Acceptable noise can be defined as a slight noise heard only at a certain speed or under certain conditions. For example, this noise tends to reach a peak at speeds from 60 to 100 km/h (40 to 60 mph) depending on the road and load conditions, or on the gear ratio and tire size. This slight noise is in no way indicative of trouble in the axle assembly.