Siden_Kai - Need your help again! 99 Silverado front differential making noise after replacing

"SDNomad" wrote

Sound like you got a bum front axle. This happens sometimes when you go with wrecking yard parts. It's the chance you take.

Be careful, taking it to a dealership will get expensive fast....and they won't be real excited about looking at it if you tell them that you have a junkyard front end in there. They will simply look at you and ask why you don't just get another diff from the yard you got it from.

No, I don't think that you did anything wrong. There really is nothing to "line up" when installing these front diffs. I just think that you happened to get a bad diff. At least...that's where I would start.

Ian

Could it possibly be a cv joint in one of the half shalfs? How could I eliminate that possiblity? It makes a low whining going straight down the road in 4wd when giving it gas (the whine gets louder the more I step on the gas), and growls when turning in 4wd. I wouldn't think a cv joint would make noise going straight down the road, but maybe when under torque it might. I don't know. There is no cluncking or poping noise. Would I need to take both half shafts out to see if they are a problem? And if I do take it in, where should I go? Should I go to AAMCO?

"SDNomad" wrote

I thought that you mentioned that the noise wasn't there before the used diff was installed. If the half shafts are the original halfshafts, I doubt that's where your problem is. Logic is important here....if you install a new component and all of a sudden you have a noise that can't be accounted for by any other reason, then I'd go with the new component.

I don't know of any way that you can take out the half shafts and run the vehicle down the road....unless you had some old outer c/v joints that you could install through the front wheel bearings. This would not accomplish anything anyway...as the front diff would now be under no load and probably be quiet. This could give you the false impression that the halfshafts were the problem.

You could either try a dealership...(I'd go there before an AAMCO place) or just try to find a good independent shop that specializes in 4x4 stuff. I know that we have about 3-4 of those kind of shops in our city.

Ian

Ian, I thought there may be a possiblity that I would not have noticed a cv joint making noise in 4wd because I never had 4wd since last year. I don't know if a bad cv joint would only make noise in 4wd, and make noise under torque (will giving gas) going straight down the road. Have you heard of cv joints doing this? I don't know if they generally act that way. I've only noticed cv joints going bad when turning a corner and hearing a popping sound. I agree with you that it is most logical that it is the diff I put in. I just don't want to have the yard send out another diff, pull this one, install the other, and find out it was something else. Thank you very much for your time. Doug

"SDNomad" wrote

It's very rare on GM 4x4 trucks to have the half shafts go bad, unless you run an excessive amount of time with the boots split open. The boots are quite strong (hard plastic ones) and I can't remember the last time I replaced a c/v or tripot joint in one of these.

Yeah...I understand this. Sometimes with junkyard parts...s*it happens.

Ian

I didn't know that. That is good to know. Now that you mention it, that is the only time I have replaced cv joints in other vehicles was when the boot was split. These cv boots are fine. Maybe I should save the hassle and just have them send out another diff. I have one more question that came to mind. When turning a corner in 4wd, would the noise increase from a low whine to a loud growl if the front diff was bad? What I am wondering is, is the only thing that notices the increased load in a turn with 4wd engaged the cv joint, or is there more pressure on the gears and bearings in the front diff when turning a corner also?

snipped-for-privacy@rushmore.com (SDNomad) wrote in :

"SDNomad" wrote

That's what "driveline windup" is all about. When you turn a corner the front and rear driveshafts will be going different speeds and if you have the t/case in 4hi....there is nothing to compensate for the different speeds. If you have the t/case in AUTO4hi...then in theory the clutch pack would allow enough slippage to allow only a minimal amount of "windup".

Which is why folks shouldn't be running around in dry conditions in Auto4hi.....because you are forcing the clutch to slip any time you turn corners.

And, getting back to the first point, driveline windup will put all sorts of added pressure on the front diff bearings and gear set...so that if there are any marginal bearings...this is when you will hear them.

Ian

Well, I went and swapped out the front axle with the original one I had and it does the exact same thing. I got out and listen to it while my wife drove it around in a parking lot and it sounds like the growling sound made be originating further back, like under the cab area. Couldn't really tell. When you are sitting inside the cab, it sounds like it is coming from up front. I think I will give up and take it in. At least I have 4wd now. Have you ever heard of a transfer case or transmission growling when making corners in 4wd or when giving it gas in 4wd?

"SDNomad" wrote

Yes...it's quite possible that the t/case that you replaced is also the culprit. Listen, go get a professional to diagnose the problem properly. Otherwise it's all just a bunch of guesswork. Who knows, maybe that professional will declare that it's a normal condition.

Ian

Well, The dealer said that the noise is normal for this model truck so I guess I am all set to go now. My 4WD is working again and ready for that next snowfall. They said on dry road conditions it will make noise due to the transfer case clutch doing its thing, I guess. Thanks Ian for the help. Doug