So on my 1990 K1500 pick up with 14-Bolt, the rear end howls around 35MPH. It's at it's loudest at 35MPH. You can hear it at 30 and at 40, but before and after that, it's hardly audible.
The noise is only present when under acceleration. Not there when your foot is off the gas.
The noise as always been there since I purchased this truck a few years ago.
In an attempt to address the howl right after I purchased the truck, I had new pinion bearings installed (there was play at the snout), along with new spider gears (they had chipped teeth). Ring and Pinion gears looked real nice.
Axle was QUIET for 1000 miles. Then howl came back. Mechanic re-tightened pinion nut. Howl went away. Came back 500 miles later. Re-tightened nut again, went away for 500 miles.
He says you can't tight it anymore.
What could be causing this? Perhaps the axle housing has some wear in the casing, where the bearings fit? who knows how long the pinion bearings were bad.
Kinda upset that the this 14-Bolt is shot. Do I have anything to worry about? Should it be safe to drive. It's just a $2500 truck. I already spent $600 on the axle 18 months ago. I don't want to put a junk yard unit it, if this axle is safe, just annoying at time.
And one last thing....the axle won't howl at 35 when cold, but once warm, it does.
Any comments? Thoughts?
The noise is only present when under acceleration. Not there when your foot is off the gas.
The noise as always been there since I purchased this truck a few years ago.
In an attempt to address the howl right after I purchased the truck, I had new pinion bearings installed (there was play at the snout), along with new spider gears (they had chipped teeth). Ring and Pinion gears looked real nice.
Axle was QUIET for 1000 miles. Then howl came back. Mechanic re-tightened pinion nut. Howl went away. Came back 500 miles later. Re-tightened nut again, went away for 500 miles.
He says you can't tight it anymore.
What could be causing this? Perhaps the axle housing has some wear in the casing, where the bearings fit? who knows how long the pinion bearings were bad.
Kinda upset that the this 14-Bolt is shot. Do I have anything to worry about? Should it be safe to drive. It's just a $2500 truck. I already spent $600 on the axle 18 months ago. I don't want to put a junk yard unit it, if this axle is safe, just annoying at time.
And one last thing....the axle won't howl at 35 when cold, but once warm, it does.
Any comments? Thoughts?