Symptom Related Diagnostic Procedures

After noise has been determined to be in the axle and not from other sources, check for the specific type of axle noise as follows:

ROUGH GROWL OR GRATING
1. Faulty pinion or rear axle case side bearing.

CHATTER ON TURNS
1. Wrong lubricant in axle.
2. Clutch cones worn.

KNOCK AT LOW SPEEDS
1. Worn universal joint.
2. Side gear hub counterbore in the differential case worn oversize.

CLUNK WHILE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING
1. Worn differential case.
2. Excessive clearance between the axle shaft and side gear splines.
3. Excessive clearance between side gear hub and counterbore in case.
4. Excessive drive pinion and ring gear backlash.
5. Worn pinion and side gear teeth.
6. Worn thrust washers.

CONSTANT SCRAPING NOISE AT LOW SPEEDS
1. Defective or worn pinion bearing.

CONSTANT WHINE WHILE DRIVING
1. Defective or worn ring and pinion gear.

GROAN IN FORWARD OR REVERSE
1. Wrong lubricant in axle.

WHINE LOUDER WHILE TURNING
1. Defective or worn axle side gear and/or pinion.