Rear end whine
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 726
Likes: 45
From: Marquette MI
Rear end whine
My 2002 6 spd.with 82000 miles is developing a whine from what seems to be the rear. I get it above 60mph and when the drive system is slightly pulling but not on acceleration or deceleration. Happens in 5th and 6th gear. Put Red Line fluids in tranny and differential about 30.000 miles ago. The whine seems to be getting slightly louder over time. It's not loud - just annoying and new. Ideas?
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,332
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From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
My 2002 6 spd.with 82000 miles is developing a whine from what seems to be the rear. I get it above 60mph and when the drive system is slightly pulling but not on acceleration or deceleration. Happens in 5th and 6th gear. Put Red Line fluids in tranny and differential about 30.000 miles ago. The whine seems to be getting slightly louder over time. It's not loud - just annoying and new. Ideas?
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Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque NM
Most likely will get louder as well
Mine took around 3k miles to go from a slight hum to downright annoying and not being able to use the radio to cover the noise.
Time for 3.90s from Rick
(see above)
Mine took around 3k miles to go from a slight hum to downright annoying and not being able to use the radio to cover the noise.Time for 3.90s from Rick
(see above)
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,332
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From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Most gear whines are on the load (accelerating) side. Usually the noise is gone during coasting or decel. The noise is similar to a straight cut gears in a transmission.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,332
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From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 6,683
Likes: 144
From: Memphis Tennessee
Both my Trans Am GT and my C5 Anniversary Edition (both with T-56 and 3.42 gears) have whinned at highway speeds. Seems I was told that it was the tranny that was the culprit, but I cannot remember. Mine have not increased in volume ever, so I am just going to live with it.....or turn the stereo up louder. LOL
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
Yes the ring and pinion are the cause. I swapped a 3.42 diff out of a Z06 into my 99 A4 and found out why they removed it. It whines badly all the time. If you can live with it, it doesn't hurt anything. If not, upgrade time 
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 302
Likes: 2
From: Baton Rouge LA
I have a noise that is kind of opposite of this. Most noticeable on cruise, only slightly noticeable on acceleration, completely gone on deceleration. All after it's warmed up and at operating temp. I haven't figured it out yet.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,332
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From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
I should have been more specific. The noise is most evident on part throttle acceleration (10-30% throttle). The noise disappears under hard acceleration and decel.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 249
From: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
I've had this noise for thousands of miles and it doesn't hurt anything. It's not too bad so I haven't done anything about it. I've got 108k miles and it has never gotten any worse.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,699
Likes: 16
From: Sun City- Menifee Calif.
My 3.90``s have been whining for over 30,000 miles now, loudest at 50-65 mph. sometimes louder than other times but not getting any worse. last diff change no metal in old oil so I`m living with it. 
I'm "Apache" a psycho dog
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,085
Likes: 31
From: N.J.
Why does this happen? and in my case only or mostly in 6th gear?
not enough 'load' on the gears,
geez i only have 40,000 mi (2004 year ) and it's been getting worse very annoying like others have said.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
They say its from improper backlash of the ring and pinion. I find it had to believe that so many mistakes were made from the factory as this happens to so many people. I think that hard driving and abuse causes the gears to form a bad wear pattern. An improper break in and or allot of spirited driving will wipe out the gear teeth surface and make them noisy.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Frederick Maryland
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12, '14-'15-'16-'17-'18
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 58
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NukeC5
Im not sure that "spirited" driving would be the cause of this. It is a Corvette after all and spirited driving is what the car was made for. I am new to this forum but I have been doing alot of research on the C5 Vettes. A Corvette with 40k miles on it should not have gear noise (unless maybe they ran it dry of lube at LeMans) I think maybe this was a Factory flaw that went unnoticed.
Im not sure that "spirited" driving would be the cause of this. It is a Corvette after all and spirited driving is what the car was made for. I am new to this forum but I have been doing alot of research on the C5 Vettes. A Corvette with 40k miles on it should not have gear noise (unless maybe they ran it dry of lube at LeMans) I think maybe this was a Factory flaw that went unnoticed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,163
Likes: 6
From: Oceanside California
NukeC5
Im not sure that "spirited" driving would be the cause of this. It is a Corvette after all and spirited driving is what the car was made for. I am new to this forum but I have been doing alot of research on the C5 Vettes. A Corvette with 40k miles on it should not have gear noise (unless maybe they ran it dry of lube at LeMans) I think maybe this was a Factory flaw that went unnoticed.
Im not sure that "spirited" driving would be the cause of this. It is a Corvette after all and spirited driving is what the car was made for. I am new to this forum but I have been doing alot of research on the C5 Vettes. A Corvette with 40k miles on it should not have gear noise (unless maybe they ran it dry of lube at LeMans) I think maybe this was a Factory flaw that went unnoticed.
The Corvette is still a car made from the same parts as any other Chevy V8. Harsh driving will lead to owning a harshly driven car that shows it like any other car.