Just rebuilt the rear in my 1980 . The contact pattern was in the reccommended area on the ring gear. New bearings and seals were all installed, fresh oil and posi lube were also put in. My question is this... I get a slight whining nosie from the back of the car. Its from the second you start to move all the way through to highway speeds. Does anyone know what it could possibly be? I was thinking a possible wheel bearing. But not ruling out the rear. Do these cars have a tendency to have a whine in the rear??? I am stumped. I hate to have to pull the rear just after it was put back in.

Forgot to add we pulled the half shafts and ran the car on a stand. No noise was present when we did this. after we hooked up the half shafts we started to hear the nosie again.


[Modified by IRON WILL, 10:25 AM 4/22/2003]

Beuler, beuler... anyone??????

Heres a TTT for you.

By the way did you put Richmond gears in?

I'm guessing it's not the rear, as you said that you pulled the half-shafts and it stopped. I'd check the u-joints and the wheelbearings. Good luck, I'd definitely wait on tearing the rear apart again though.

They are new solid u-joints on the left along with new yokes. The right has new u-joints old yokes did not need replacement. I will have to check the wheel bearings. I have talked to a few rear end places and they said it could be a number of things. They were not much help. This has become a problem beyond frustrating. I really do appreciate the help. Thank you.

I't could be the ring gear. If the gear set gets a wear pattern on them, and then
they are setup again. Maybe tighter, they will make some noise.

When I switched to Richmond 3.90's I get a slight whine. I only hear it under no load while at 50mph or above. No noise on acceleration or decelleration. Only in between at no load. I was told this is typical with Richmond gears which are built for strength. Something about the design of the tooth pattern makem them a bit noisier but stronger at the same time. Seems like theres always a trade off.

Whine or roar? There is a difference. A wheel bearing will be a roar. It will be fairly constant in pitch, but increase in frequency with speed. A pinion out of adjustment will usually cause a whine and it usually is more pronounced on one or the other. Acceleration, or Deceleration or No Load.

The answer to the question is YES. These cars are proned to pinion whine, mostly because they are so difficult to set up, and the factory did a sloppy job.


[Modified by wombvette, 2:19 PM 4/22/2003]