I posted a note last week with a noise problem on my 1994 Ram 1500 4x4. I had a couple of responses that suggested that the REAR differential was going bad. I would like to up date everyone. As I understand it, its very common for the bearings in the Chrysler rear end to go bad, but as I drive down the road the sound seems to be closer to the front of the truck. Now I can't tell this for sure as I cant hear it very well with the windows open. The other interesting piece of data is the front passenger axle seal went last week. I replaced the seal and within 100 miles I'm blowing a lot (enough to leave a puddle) of oil again . Has anyone had a problem with their front axle that caused both the passenger axle seal to blow oil and a noise? What could be causing both? Here is my original description of the noise............it sounds like a winning, howling sound that seems to increase in pitch with road speed. It's the loudest between 30 - 40 MPH, but can be heard slower and faster. Sort of like tire noise, but I don' think it's the tires. I also replaced both front hubs and axle joints over the summer, about the same time I put tires on. I don't think is the transmission, the noise does not change when I push the clutch IN, put it in different gears or even coast in neutral. The noise doesn't seem to change with load either. I even put the transfer case in neutral and ran the tranny through the gears with no noise. I replaced the rear u-joints and changed the fluid in the transfercase and front differential with no change. Any more ideas?
- posted
18 years ago