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- Path: sparky!uunet!dtix!darwin.sura.net!mlb.semi.harris.com!billy.mlb.semi.harris.com!jws
- From: jws@billy.mlb.semi.harris.com (James W. Swonger)
- Newsgroups: rec.autos.tech
- Subject: Re: HELP: Can rear end noise be adjusted out?
- Message-ID: <1993Jan26.144521.6843@mlb.semi.harris.com>
- Date: 26 Jan 93 14:45:21 GMT
- References: <1993Jan26.025407.24805@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu>
- Sender: news@mlb.semi.harris.com
- Distribution: usa
- Organization: Harris Semiconductor, Melbourne FL
- Lines: 41
- Nntp-Posting-Host: billy.mlb.semi.harris.com
-
-
- Since this seems to be a recurring problem which happens -after- the rear
- end is installed in your vehicle, you need to look for the reason why the
- rear ends do not last. The real adjustment you need may be elsewhere. One
- possibility is a driveline misalignment. The angle of the driveshaft to the
- transmission yoke and to the pinion shaft at the rear should be identical
- to minimize the amount of radial motion and force generated in the U-joints
- during rotation. Gross misalignment can hammer the bearings. Misalignment
- can often result if a car's suspension geometry is changed significantly
- from factory setup - like jacking the back way up - or if the axle has
- been dislocated by severe service (occasionally happens on leaf spring
- vehicles when the axle and perch move relative to the spring).
-
- A bent or unbalanced driveshaft, worn U-joints and pinion shaft play also
- may result in driveline vibration.
-
- GM rear ends have a pinion adjusting nut hidden inside the pinion yoke.
- This nut preloads tapered roller bearings inside the differential. If the
- preload is lost, you get slop and whine. The adjusting nut may back off if
- there is excessive driveline vibration (see above).
-
- The tightening torque for the p nion adjusting nut is pretty low. The
- preferred method for setting preload is actually to measure drag torque
- with the rest of the guts not installed in the diff - not eminently
- practical. For the case of external adjustment try to find a torque value
- in a shop manual. You want snug, not dogged down tight. You could take the
- wheels off the ground and tighten until you feel resistance to turning the
- the pinion yoke increase, then back off 1/4 turn.
-
- On older 10-bolts the pinion nut is 1-1/4". Application of a small amount
- of thread lock compound may help keep the adjustment. The pinion nut, washer
- and shaft are guaranteed to be pretty greasy though, and might want cleaning
- before any thread lock will help. If you have been running for a long time
- with pinion shaft play, you might want to replace the pinion seal and maybe
- the nose bearing too. Both are removable from the front of the differential if
- you take the yoke off.
- --
- ##########################################################################
- #Irresponsible rantings of the author alone. Any resemblance to persons #
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-