Rearend howl

[plymouth67]

The rearend gear in my car is very loud. It howls like crazy cruising down the road but if you get it up about 70mph it kinda shuts up. Its an 8.75 with a Richmond 4.10 gear and I was told by one of the former owners that put it in that it has been that way since he put it in. He also said he took it out like 3 times because he thought he did something wrong because of how loud it is. Why so loud does he just have the backlash to tight? Just asking so when I tear it apart here real soon and someone has some pointers I will check it out while its apart. Thanks for any imput.

 

[72Satellite440]

My advise is to crack it open to make sure the yoke & pinion has zero movement
-If its sharper on turns then its most likely a bearing
-best thing to do is put the rear on stands and listen to where the most noise is

but Like you said the backlash could be too tight

 

[Pastortom1]

I'm sure you'll get differing responses on this one due to the many variables involved.

I've dealt with the same problem on numerous set-ups, and most have been a need to just shim properly.....that is, when the pinion bearing is fresh.

I have an old 8-3/4 in my A-Body Cuda right now that howls like yours....New bearing and 2 adjustments and it still makes some noise, but better....then some sure-grip lube, and a smidgen quieter again...........but still there. Some will say the axle bearings can be a caused.....Type and level of lube......I wish I had an easy answer.

Some gear sets are just plain chronic and you can pull your hair out trying to figure it all out........almost as maddening as trying to isolate a vibration.......

IF the gears have been manufactured properly, and IF it's set up correctly, it shouldn't howl..................................BUT, :eusa_boohoo:

I feel your pain. Good luck finding the problem.

 

[plymouth67]

Its definetly not a bearing its the same straight or turning. I think hes just got it set to tight. Thanks for the imput Im open to any suggestion to make sure I cover all the bases when I tear it apart. Dont want to do it multiple times.

 

[plymouth67]

Dont have the papers on the Richmond gears anyone know what the backlash should be off the top of thier heads?

 

[yellowdartdave]

.006 to 008 at point of minimum backlash.

 

[plymouth67]

Pulled it out and.............. ring and pinion is shot!

 

[Cranky]

If the pinion is too deep, it'll most likely be noisy on coast down. Too shallow, noisy on run up. All the time and especially during steady cruising....junk.

 

[scotts74birds]

Mine was howling on my 95 Ram for 40k miles. Carrier bearing. Straight, or turns. Ring and pinion were fine

 

[Al K]

If the pinion is too deep, it'll most likely be noisy on coast down. Too shallow, noisy on run up. All the time and especially during steady cruising....junk.

Cranky;you just explained what the prob with my 8-3/4"/489 case/3.23 is. I get the (slight) howl on coast down as well.

See folks;best education you can get,right here.

 

[Cranky]

Glad to help. I've been hearing for a long time that Richmond gears have been problematic and especially so on 9" Fords but I haven't had any problems with them on 8 3/4's. Now I don't do as much gear work as I used to do but I did a couple last year and they were quiet. I also did a Dana 60 for a buddy last summer and they were also quiet. If you can get some white or yellow marking compound, paint the pinion and rotate it through the ring. If you paint just the pinion, it will leave a very easy to read pattern on the ring gear. Paint both sides of the pinion and rotate it back and forth and take a pic and post it if you can....