Differential Carrier Bearing?
Thread Starter
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
Differential Carrier Bearing?
I am getting a road hum coming out of my Dana 44 rear differential. I'm not sure but this might be symptomatic of a failing differential carrier bearing. I need advice on how to pin down this rear axle hum without tearing out the rear end for inspection. Any ideas?
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 421
Likes: 2
From: van buren ar
you could lift the rear wheels off of the ground and support the car on jack stands.throw it in gear and listen.use a long screwdriver or pry bar to listen to the different areas of the rear.i had alot of noise,and i mean alot,coming from the rear of my car below 30 and worse below 18.ended up being my tires.sounded like a wheel bearing though.
Thread Starter
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
you could lift the rear wheels off of the ground and support the car on jack stands.throw it in gear and listen.use a long screwdriver or pry bar to listen to the different areas of the rear.i had alot of noise,and i mean alot,coming from the rear of my car below 30 and worse below 18.ended up being my tires.sounded like a wheel bearing though.
I have always thought that the hum I get is just the Gatorbacks making road noise, but a shop mechanic recently said that he thought it was a carrier bearing. My sense is that he is wrong. Since the hum is not loud or anoying I think I'll wait a while and see what happens.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,403
Likes: 3
From: Columbia Maryland
Thanks.
I have always thought that the hum I get is just the Gatorbacks making road noise, but a shop mechanic recently said that he thought it was a carrier bearing. My sense is that he is wrong. Since the hum is not loud or anoying I think I'll wait a while and see what happens.
I have always thought that the hum I get is just the Gatorbacks making road noise, but a shop mechanic recently said that he thought it was a carrier bearing. My sense is that he is wrong. Since the hum is not loud or anoying I think I'll wait a while and see what happens.
If your still on Gatorbacks, your on borrowed time and should run right out and get a lottery ticket because you're lucky, just don't drive the car with the Gatorbacks to get to the lottery ticket store!.....
Out of curioscity, and while you're still here to answer this question, what is the manufacture date on you Gatorbacks?
Thread Starter
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,403
Likes: 3
From: Columbia Maryland
I think you just found part or more of your noise source, tires have to be as hard as bricks, even the newer ones. Try swapping them out locally with maybe a friend or acquaintance with a known newer set from another C-4 and give it a try.
Problem with the older tires is they vulcanize or harden with time, so much so that they no longer absorb harmonics from the rotational roll of the tires, they start to transmit these bumps in the road and even the lug pattern of the tread to the suspension and through the car making one think they have a bearing starting to "hum".
Once in a hardened stage, these tires are more like plastic then rubber and a panic stop could be like being on "ice" even on dry pavement.
If you were closer, I've got a set of BF Goodriches you could try but I'm in Northern Virginia.
I'd try a swap before spending money on new tires, fresh tires will probably make it seem like a totally different car both ride and handling wise.
Good luck
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 190
From: Custer, WI
GATORBACKS, ARE YOU CHITTING ME?
If your still on Gatorbacks, your on borrowed time and should run right out and get a lottery ticket because you're lucky, just don't drive the car with the Gatorbacks to get to the lottery ticket store!.....
Out of curioscity, and while you're still here to answer this question, what is the manufacture date on you Gatorbacks?
If your still on Gatorbacks, your on borrowed time and should run right out and get a lottery ticket because you're lucky, just don't drive the car with the Gatorbacks to get to the lottery ticket store!.....
Out of curioscity, and while you're still here to answer this question, what is the manufacture date on you Gatorbacks?
LOL
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Thread Starter
Slingshot
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,817
Likes: 24
From: Charlotte NC
pm,
I think you just found part or more of your noise source, tires have to be as hard as bricks, even the newer ones. Try swapping them out locally with maybe a friend or acquaintance with a known newer set from another C-4 and give it a try.
Problem with the older tires is they vulcanize or harden with time, so much so that they no longer absorb harmonics from the rotational roll of the tires, they start to transmit these bumps in the road and even the lug pattern of the tread to the suspension and through the car making one think they have a bearing starting to "hum".
Once in a hardened stage, these tires are more like plastic then rubber and a panic stop could be like being on "ice" even on dry pavement.
If you were closer, I've got a set of BF Goodriches you could try but I'm in Northern Virginia.
I'd try a swap before spending money on new tires, fresh tires will probably make it seem like a totally different car both ride and handling wise.
Good luck
I think you just found part or more of your noise source, tires have to be as hard as bricks, even the newer ones. Try swapping them out locally with maybe a friend or acquaintance with a known newer set from another C-4 and give it a try.
Problem with the older tires is they vulcanize or harden with time, so much so that they no longer absorb harmonics from the rotational roll of the tires, they start to transmit these bumps in the road and even the lug pattern of the tread to the suspension and through the car making one think they have a bearing starting to "hum".
Once in a hardened stage, these tires are more like plastic then rubber and a panic stop could be like being on "ice" even on dry pavement.
If you were closer, I've got a set of BF Goodriches you could try but I'm in Northern Virginia.
I'd try a swap before spending money on new tires, fresh tires will probably make it seem like a totally different car both ride and handling wise.
Good luck
The 1987 tires are mounted on the original wheels and stay on the wall in my garage. I only use them for NCRS judging events. They only see about 50-60 miles a year and never at any appreciable speed.
The Z rated tires I use for regular driving, about 1500 miles a year, are in very good shape, but as you say they are pretty hard and at 30psi, they are somewhat bone jarring.
The problem that I have is that only BF Goodrich still makes 255/50 ZR 16" tires any more and I think that what they are offering for sale, while they say they are brand new, they are actually 7 - 8 years old. In the next year or so when my 1996 Gatorbacks finally bite the dust, I guess that I'll have to install the 17" wheel adapters and spring for some real new 17" Z rates tires. In the mean time, I'll just have to keep it under 140 mph.
Pete.
