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View Full Version : Should I be concerned about my rear end?



Wires
08-24-2005, 01:27 PM
No, not THAT rear end, that's another message board altogether.

A few months ago, I brought my MM to my favorite dealer's service department for a bad rear end noise. It had the dreaded axle problem that we all know and love. Two new axles, bearings, shave, haircut, and 4.10 gears later all is well.

A week later I had to take it back due to a bad grease seal. A month or two passes.

A couple of weeks ago I started hearing the same type of noise. "It can't be my rear end bearings, I just had those changed." I thought. However, that's what it was.

The dealer service dept. is doing the right thing, the job is covered under the service warranty ( I had to pay for the initial fix, as my car is out of warranty on mileage)

Did I just get a fluke "bad set" of parts? Could there be something else wrong that I should be worried about?

Has this happened to anyone else?

fastblackmerc
08-24-2005, 01:54 PM
No, not THAT rear end, that's another message board altogether.

A few months ago, I brought my MM to my favorite dealer's service department for a bad rear end noise. It had the dreaded axle problem that we all know and love. Two new axles, bearings, shave, haircut, and 4.10 gears later all is well.

A week later I had to take it back due to a bad grease seal. A month or two passes.

A couple of weeks ago I started hearing the same type of noise. "It can't be my rear end bearings, I just had those changed." I thought. However, that's what it was.

The dealer service dept. is doing the right thing, the job is covered under the service warranty ( I had to pay for the initial fix, as my car is out of warranty on mileage)

Did I just get a fluke "bad set" of parts? Could there be something else wrong that I should be worried about?

Has this happened to anyone else?
Might be those "chinese" bearings...

Blackened300a
08-24-2005, 02:14 PM
Whats Kind of Noise?? Maybe its the infamous "Gear Whine" That sounds like a bad bearing. When im accelerating or slowing down I dont hear it, When I give just enough throttle for the Car to hold and maintain its speed I hear a whine.

This your issue?

Wires
08-24-2005, 02:29 PM
It's almost like a very bad tire noise, kind if a wow wow wow wow wow or whooa whooa whooa, heck, I should have recorded it.

I had the same noise before the axles and bearings were changed the first time, and it went away, even with the 4.10 gears. (FMS, purchased from Dennis)

It was quite for a while, and it began gradually and slowly got worse. It was like the frog in hot water - I almost didn't notice it until this week when I realized that something is wrong.

I didn't talk to the tech, I just got the report that the Ford axle kit was bad and it was being replaced under service parts warranty.

I don't think it's gear whine, but I could be wrong. I'll ask about that.

grampaws
08-24-2005, 03:46 PM
Even though you payed for the repair the dealer should give you

some kind of warranty on his installation...IE defective bearings
Either reduced labour rate or N/C replacement parts..Whine could be bearings
or clearances between the gears..if it is a clearance issue they can remove
the diff cover and inspect the wear patterns on the gears..
I would have the dealer check it.

Smokie
08-24-2005, 04:12 PM
It's almost like a very bad tire noise, kind if a wow wow wow wow wow or whooa whooa whooa, heck, I should have recorded it.That sound you describe is NOT a whine, it sure does sound like bad bearings.

Wires
08-24-2005, 07:05 PM
Even though you payed for the repair the dealer should give you some kind of warranty on his installation...IE defective bearings
Either reduced labour rate or N/C replacement parts..Whine could be bearings
or clearances between the gears..if it is a clearance issue they can remove
the diff cover and inspect the wear patterns on the gears..
I would have the dealer check it.
Ford and this dealer are standing behind the installation, my guess is that if Ford's parts are bad, Ford pays the dealer for the re-install. (At least that's what happend with the bad grease seal.)

Could there be some other problem causing my bearings to go bad so soon? Could the leaking grease seal be a clue? Is it just bad luck with Ford parts?

I hate to keep going back every few months for new bearings.

Marauderjack
08-25-2005, 03:29 AM
Whenever you have this kind of failure there is a BUNCH of metal debris inside the rear housing that is pretty hard to flush out without removing the entire axle!!! :bigcry:

I had a 2000 CV that had the "Whump Whumps" and it took a couple trips to resolve a seal leak on the right that was attributed to metal shavings?? :confused:

Make sure you have the magnetic fill plug and what little debris is left will eventually be picked up by it.....The shavings are really pretty soft and they say cause few problems with gears and bearings??

You probably just got a bad replacement bearing!! :argue:

Good Luck!!

Marauderjack :)

BillyGman
08-25-2005, 11:15 PM
My understanding is that sometimes bearings can simply be defective right from the start. And the noise you've described does sound like it would be a bearing noise. Sounds to me that this time around they will probably straighten things out for you. ;)

Wires
08-31-2005, 04:40 AM
It turns out that they didn't replace a bearing - but they had to replace the right grease seal AGAIN!

This makes the third time it was replaced. I'm worried that every 3 or 4 months, I'll have to take it back to get a new seal put in.

Plus, the tech said that he didn't really hear any unusual noise - so I'm either oversensitive, or I'm being blown off.

I really love this car, but I've even had a stray thought or two about getting rid of it just because of this hassle.

fastblackmerc
08-31-2005, 05:40 AM
It turns out that they didn't replace a bearing - but they had to replace the right grease seal AGAIN!

This makes the third time it was replaced. I'm worried that every 3 or 4 months, I'll have to take it back to get a new seal put in.

Plus, the tech said that he didn't really hear any unusual noise - so I'm either oversensitive, or I'm being blown off.

I really love this car, but I've even had a stray thought or two about getting rid of it just because of this hassle.
I don't believe a defective grease seal will make the noise you described. Like others have said... sounds like a bad bearing.

Wires
08-31-2005, 05:49 AM
It's really two issues - the noise and the leaking seals.

The technician told me he drove the car, and ran it on the lift and listened for any bearing noise. He told me he didn't hear any.

I took it in for noise, but he told me he found the leaking grease seal.

This seal was replaced three times so far:
When the axles and bearings were replaced (along with pinion bearing)
When I discovered it leaking.
This last time when I brought it in for bearing noise.

I don't know what an entire new axle assembly costs, but I bet it's not cheap.

Plus, I'd have to pay someone to go into it and install the 4.10s.

I always have had bad luck with cars.

This dealership is known as the best place around here to take a Marauder, and if they can't help me, I don't know what to do.

Meteorite
08-31-2005, 07:16 AM
I'm joining this thread late, but trying to put two and two together ... between the grease seal leak and the noise. It would seem to point to a distorted differential housing. That could cause a leak on the one hand, but also greater (and asymmetric) loading on the bearings as well. :(

snowbird
08-31-2005, 06:18 PM
OOOOps

Sorry, i thought it was another defiant's wife tread !!:D

Wires
09-01-2005, 04:44 AM
What? You have to explain how you.........

No. Don't. Please, don't.

Seriously, do I need a whole rear axle assy? Would that cost more than the car is worth?

grampaws
09-01-2005, 08:09 AM
The bearing noise might only be apparent if there is weight on the

axle IE outter axle bearings..If the seals are leaking they could have been damaged during installation or the seals are no good to begin with or
there is too much play in the bearing..The seals will not work if the surface
they are sealing against is moving to much..Chances are where its leaking is where there is a bearing problem...Differential housings rarely warp...replacing
the Whole housing would be a waste of money..checking it for a defect might
put you mind to rest but I doubt you will find anything wrong there it is very
rare(if it has twisted that much it would probably crack before bending,I do
believe it is a cast housing)

grampaws
09-01-2005, 08:20 AM
It is possible you could have a tire problem...a shifted belt or out of round

tire could make a similar noise but..any vibrations at specific speeds...
does the car shimmy or wallow a little at low speeds IE 10 mph..
any cupping or unusual wear on the tread ie low spots(use tire depthguage)
Long shot
but it is hard to diagnose posts...maybe a tire shop?

Wires
09-01-2005, 08:26 AM
You are correct about it being difficult to diagnose a noise over written posts.

My primary concern is the grease seals - four seals in less than 6 months?

(I don't know if the original set was leaking or not.)

I can believe one bad seal, but two?

I feel like my car is a "time bomb" - any day now the 4th seal will leak. Going back every month for a new seal would get old fast. I don't know if Ford or this dealership would replace my axles again or not.

Would the technician feel like I was going over his head or second guessing him if I spoke with the service manager about that possibility?

Heck, he might even read this! He's a great tech and a nice guy and I am not unhappy with him or his work at all and I don't want to give that impression at all. I think I've got a lemon.

I used to get those when I was a service tech. (not cars, VCRS and stuff like that.) Some units would just be problems - I would change parts on recalls and it would still come back.

grampaws
09-01-2005, 08:43 AM
Trying aftermarket seals could help...from name brand supplier..

These seals sometimes are designed to fit tighter to account for
wear on the sealing surface change the bearing once more..
maybe aftermarket too! It may not be the tech but the parts he
is using...It is funny sometimes the problem is the OEM parts..
There has been the occasion where after market parts have cured
recurring problems..Slight different clearances might fix the problem.
It doesn't happen very often but it can..one solution might be putting
in Perfomance axles and bearings..expensive option but could be a solution.
I would not give up yet maybe the tech just might need a nudge to try
something different..

python357
09-01-2005, 12:42 PM
I used to have the same problem with my 89 ford Bronco with the 8.8 rear end
I just replaced the axel seals several times till it stopped leaking or it ran out of gear oil LOL

:beer:

SergntMac
09-01-2005, 01:44 PM
A tire problem could lead to a blown seal, think about it?

Meanwhile, you need to rule out your tires, as a problem and/or as a noise-vibration before you speculate any more on axle internals.

If you can locate another Marauder owner in your area who will help out, trade tires for a test ride. PITA that this is, it's the only way to move forward. If you cannot remove the tires in a trade, fill them to capacity, 44 PSI, and test again. Then drop to 25 PSI, tests again. If the noise you detect continues on through both tests, it's not the tires. If the noise changes pitch, goes away, or, gets worse, pursue that next, have a tire expert go over your tires for imperfections, out of balance, irregular wear, and so on.

Here's some notes...The cupping mentioned earlier can cause steering wheel wiggle, pulling to left or right, or a very audible howl above 50 MPH. A bent or out of round wheel will cause similar problems. In early stages, worn U-Joints can be a cause, but you should detect a clicking or clunking noise when shifting from forward to reverse.

Could be something else, but rule out the tires first?

grampaws
09-01-2005, 07:32 PM
The tires will not cause seals to leak it was mentioned..

as a possible noise source..Just to clarify!

warren
09-02-2005, 05:04 PM
Wires,

Took mine to a Cobra, Ford dealer.
They had special equipment to listen to the rear.
They do most of the security, police, and HP cars in area.
The sound was a slight moaning.
Replaced with new axles, bearings etc. (a special kit for this)
It happened alot to the CV's.
I would go back and work with Ser. Mgr. - the new bearings or
one of them may be bad. 4 seals in just a few months means
too much movemant so push for a resolve while you can.
Warren