Noise from rear axle

[sargefc0814]

I've been hearing this grinding sound coming from my rear axle for some time. I only hear it when taking off from a complete stop. I also hear it when making turns, both right and left, from a complete stop. I only hear it at a slow speed. After gaining speed, the sound goes away. I'm not sure it it's a bearing or u-joint. Does anyone have an idea as to what it may be? Again, I don't hearing it at high speeds or when I'm slowing down. My rear brakes pads and rotors have been replaced in the past few months.

 

[Pull Ya]

I'd take the diff cover off and look around, gears, bearings and the oil that came out of the diff.
Jay

 

[SilverStreak88]

Sounds like a bearing went out and is allowing the gears to bind.

 

[Galion]

Sounds like a shot bearing or damaged gear, most likely bearing. Bad u-joints usually can be identified by a clunking sound, and if you grab it you'll feel play in it. I'd be taking the cover off and taking a look immediately, if it's a shot bearing and you catch and replace it soon enough, it can be fine. But if you let it go for too long, you'll wreck the entire diff.

 

[R/T_Fire]

Run your vin on the recall list and see if your part of the pinion nut recall. If so your in luck and repairs are on dodge.

My pinion nut came loose and spit the pinion shaft out the front of the pumpkin... destroyed the whole diff, they rebuilt it.. whole thing. New LSD, bearings gears, axles everything but the case.

Its at least worth looking into

 

[sargefc0814]

I did notice that my truck year and model did have a recall. However, I did call Chrysler and ran the VIN and both said that my truck did not have an active recall for it. I even ran a carfax to see if a recall repair had been done, and it had not been done. I hope its not the pinion nut because I'd rather not have my vehicle go down for the whole rear being destroyed because of it.

 

[sargefc0814]

Thank you for all the suggestions... I ended up draining the fluid in my rear differential and replacing the fluid and gasket and somehow the grinding sound went away. Maybe the fluids were low, I don't know. I'm just glad the sound has gone away.

 

[Hootbro]

Thank you for all the suggestions... I ended up draining the fluid in my rear differential and replacing the fluid and gasket and somehow the grinding sound went away. Maybe the fluids were low, I don't know. I'm just glad the sound has gone away.

Gear fluid just does not dissipate. You sure you did not have a leak? Did you check bottom of the differential and the two axle seal sides to make sure there was no seepage?

 

[sargefc0814]

It appeared there may have been an old leak due to the residue buildup. It wasn't leaking when I took off the differential cover and replaced the gasket and fluid. So maybe the lack of fluid in it caused it to grind a little. I didn't see any metal shards inside of the differential, which is good. A good amount of fluid still drained from the differential when I took the cover off.

 

[Hootbro]

It appeared there may have been an old leak due to the residue buildup. It wasn't leaking when I took off the differential cover and replaced the gasket and fluid. So maybe the lack of fluid in it caused it to grind a little. I didn't see any metal shards inside of the differential, which is good. A good amount of fluid still drained from the differential when I took the cover off.

Well at least you have something to watch for in the future. Sounds like you hopefully got it figured out.