Rear end noise

[2000tahoeZ71]

Get underneath the truck and grab the driveshaft where it enters the rear axle at the pinion. Push up and down. I couldn't figure out where mine was coming from until it was too late. Pinion bearings take a lot of wear and tear during acceleration and suspension travel. Mine failed and took the pinion and ring with them.

 

[new2yukon]

So is my issue leaning diff or wheel bearing or hard to know at this point? I will def get under and pull on it like you stated. If it is loose, how much would a shop charge or is it something a diy could do?

 

[2000tahoeZ71]

I paid right at a thousand and that was for essentially a rebuild kit and new gears. I have never worked on a rear end but know a little about them. I got it done at the dealership and about two days into it they called me and told me it couldn't be fixed. What do you mean it can't be fixed? They claimed the housing was trash because they couldn't get the pinion crush sleeve to crush. I had talked to a long time GM mechanic and he said ********, tell them to get the biggest damn ratchet they have and then put the biggest cheater bar on it and tighten it. Called me back that afternoon to tell me it was ready. The whine you say goes away when you let off the gas leads me to believe it is pinion based. I think a DIY could do it, but it likely involves some tools most don't have. I tend to stay away from transmissions, rearends, and bodywork.

 

[new2yukon]

Thks for your replies. The sound doesn't go away coasting or in neutral. I didn't mean to confuse. It really never goes away unless I spin the rears on snow. But then when I let up it comes back. SometimesI can get it to subside in figure eights but don't know exactly how to repeat it.

I got under it last night...pinion just forward of the rear diff is tight. No wiggle at all when I tried to pull on it. It had just a very small rotational movement but I would assume is normal.

Whatever it is, it's somehow speed and axle rotational resistance dependent.

I think my next step is to jack rear end and turn wheels...???

 

[SunlitComet]

You have an aggressive tire tread pattern? Pic?

---------- Post added at 01:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 PM ----------

And To OP how many miles on the diffy. They look like the gears have really been burned up a lot looking at chard surfaces or carrier. It looks like I can't even see a distinct wear pattern center on the ring. Looks like it has been wearing at the entire surface. Fluid is nasty as hell as well.

 

[new2yukon]

to Sunlit:
Are you asking me about my tires? They were on there when I got it. They are fairly new and for what its worth, they are General (stx?) from Walmart. Cheap, I know, and maybe that IS my problem.