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From: wookie@alice.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Advice needed on noisy rear end
Message-ID: <2037@alice.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 11-Jul-83 11:28:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: alice.2037
Posted: Mon Jul 11 11:28:24 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 12-Jul-83 18:55:43 EDT
References: <3047@utzoo.UUCP>
Lines: 30

I have had similar problems in three high mileage rear axles nad from your
description I would say the input pinion gear bearing may be failing.  In
all my cases it wound up being cheaper to get another axle from a junk yard
and just replace the whole thing rather than try to replace the bearing since
this requires careful setting of clearances between the ring and pinion
gears.  The fact that the fluid level was low may give some clue.  One of
my failures was due to a leaking axle seal which I ignored until I could
get to it.  In the process the fluid level dropped and I presume lack of
lubrication caused the failure of the pinion bearing.  So look for a leak
either at each rear axle (remove the brake drum and you should not see
any oil on the backplate) or at the input shaft (look for oil sprayed around
the area where the universal joint is at the input to the differential).
While you're looking at the input shaft see if it has any side to side
play in it.  If it has noticeable play then it is indeed the pinion shaft
bearing that is failing.  In all my cases the failure time was about two
weeks of driving to and from work from the time I first heard the noise
until the car was no longer driveable.  The noise I heard occurred mainly
during deceleration and so near the end when the noise got really bad
(due to grinding of the gears inside) I had to drive with the rear axle
constantly under forward load.  This meant no backing up at all, not
decelerating to reduce speed but using the brakes with the engine applied
and definitely no coasting!

Well I hope this gives some insight and who knows maybe it's just a noisy
positraction unit like in my Trans-Am but then you didn't say it goes
clunk, clunk, clunk when making a turn but is fine otherwise.

Good luck and let us know the results!
					Keith Bauer
					White Tiger Racing