Howling from the rear.....

[Last5.0Cobra]

Hey guys, long time. Anyway, after school the other day i hopped in my Stang and was heading home. All of the sudden i heard a howling noise coming from the rear end. I immediately turned off my music and listened to it further, trying to place where it was coming from. The best i could tell it was coming from the rear of the car somewhere and i'm not sure if it was specific to either side. The noise continued with the clutch engaged or not. Does anyone know what that may be? I figure it is drive train related? Current mods there are spec stage three clutch, b&m shifter, steeda triax handle and a fidanza aluminum flywheel. Also the gears are 3.73's and have been for years. The drive shaft is stock. Thank you for your time, and thanks in advance for your posts.

 

[Labora]

Hey guys, long time. Anyway, after school the other day i hopped in my Stang and was heading home. All of the sudden i heard a howling noise coming from the rear end. I immediately turned off my music and listened to it further, trying to place where it was coming from. The best i could tell it was coming from the rear of the car somewhere and i'm not sure if it was specific to either side. The noise continued with the clutch engaged or not. Does anyone know what that may be? I figure it is drive train related? Current mods there are spec stage three clutch, b&m shifter, steeda triax handle and a fidanza aluminum flywheel. Also the gears are 3.73's and have been for years. The drive shaft is stock. Thank you for your time, and thanks in advance for your posts.

Check your rear end gear level asap.

 

[mhespenh]

Check your rear end gear level asap.

This x 10000

This is how my old cherokee met its maker- ass seized/sheared on the interstate going around 70- NOT FUN

 

[Last5.0Cobra]

Gear level? The fluid level? Please elaborate.

 

[toyman]

Gear level? The fluid level? Please elaborate.

One and the same.

 

[revhead347]

Could be an axle bearing that has given up too. Usually when the axle bearings go they tear up the half shafts. Be ready, it's probably going to be an expensive repair.

Kurt

 

[Zero_chance]

Usually what happens is lack of gear oil to one of the sides allows the bearing to chew up the axleshaft (more common to use the term halfshafts when referring to CV axles found in IRS setups) which will present itself as a howl. In instances of an IRS, its a lot easier to diagnose a bearing noise as you can quickly steer back and forth while driving and it will load and unload the bearing. With a solid axle, not always as easy. Now is this something that may have been there for a while that you havent really noticed? Keep in mind, the other possible sources of the noise are pinion bearing, carrier bearings, axle bearings as mentioned and even noise from the meshing of the ring and pinion. The best way to diagnose noises like this are to have the car up in the air on a lift (safest that way) and then have someone put it in gear and keep it at the speed where you can hear it the best while you use a mechanics stethoscope to listen at the diff and ends of the axle tube. An easy check would be obviously the fluid level and for signs of a leak at the axle seals and differential.