Lately I have had a howling sound in my 89 Bronco. It sounds a lot like a truck with agressive mud tires, but it has a fairly new set of normal firestone tires on it. It sounds more like its coming from the rear. There is no vibration and the sound doesn't change in turns. It starts around 10mph and just gets louder the faster you go, and is constant whether you are accelerating or slowing down. Any ideas?
Howling noise at any speed over 10mph. Bearings?
- Thread starter nwjones18
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Rotate your tire first then try it again. But yes, it could be front wheel bearings.
Sounds like a rear axle bearing to me.
Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Rotate your tire first then try it again. But yes, it could be front wheel bearings.
Sorry should have mentioned I already rotated the tires. No change. I repacked and replaced front wheel bearings around 10k miles ago so they should be fine.
Rotate your tire first then try it again. But yes, it could be front wheel bearings.
Sorry should have mentioned I already rotated the tires. No change. I repacked and replaced front wheel bearings around 10k miles ago so they should be fine.
Originally Posted By: wsar10
If it was a JEEP with D30 I would say it's probably front pinion bearing......
Oddly enough mine didn't howl. It just started having extreme front driveshaft vibrations and chewed up the ring gear.
My rear axle howls and it's a pinion bearing.
If it was a JEEP with D30 I would say it's probably front pinion bearing......
Oddly enough mine didn't howl. It just started having extreme front driveshaft vibrations and chewed up the ring gear.
My rear axle howls and it's a pinion bearing.
bad bearing.
Kestas
Staff member
The description does sound suspiciously like a bad wheel bearing. Such a rear end noise can be difficult to diagnose on a RWD, because you can't rule out noise from the differential.
Originally Posted By: nwjones18
Lately I have had a howling sound in my 89 Bronco. It sounds a lot like a truck with agressive mud tires, but it has a fairly new set of normal firestone tires on it. It sounds more like its coming from the rear. There is no vibration and the sound doesn't change in turns. It starts around 10mph and just gets louder the faster you go, and is constant whether you are accelerating or slowing down. Any ideas?
Where's your Dog?
Lately I have had a howling sound in my 89 Bronco. It sounds a lot like a truck with agressive mud tires, but it has a fairly new set of normal firestone tires on it. It sounds more like its coming from the rear. There is no vibration and the sound doesn't change in turns. It starts around 10mph and just gets louder the faster you go, and is constant whether you are accelerating or slowing down. Any ideas?
Where's your Dog?
I'd rule out a pinion bearing since the noise doesn't change when the OP is on the gas or off.
I vote for a rear axle bearing.
I vote for a rear axle bearing.
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Ok today I got a chance to jack the truck up and I ran the rear end up to speed on jack stands. I put a stethoscope on both ends near the wheels and the bearings sound fine. the noice seems to actually be coming from the pumpkin. I filled with costal 80w-90 about 10k ago (added friction modifier) and I am going to dump fluid and refill with Valvoline 75w-140 and see if this quiets it down. Also will look at ring and pinion close while I'm in there.
Carrier bearings
Kestas
Staff member
When you dump the oil play close attention to the debris that comes out. Flakes larger than around 2 mm will be a clue that spalling is occurring somewhere.
Figured I'd update.. I took it to a local shop and they said that their was rust on the ring gear and the axle bearings were shot. Ended up getting a used rear end and rebuilding it for the truck. All new bearings. They showed me the old axle and it was indeed rusted and pitted on the ring gear. Truck had sat for a couple years before we got it and the 1/2 out of the oil was rusted.. Cost $750 which I didn't think was terrible.
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