Problem with differential/rear...?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885
Likes: 0
From: Long Island NY
Problem with differential/rear...?
I took some time out to lower my car the other day, tightened the front bolts all the way and cut the bushings in the rear and left the nut two threads from the top of the bolt just as many had suggested. Now while driving around I hear a "hiss" sound every time the rear wheels turn, definitely coming from the rear. It is more evident after driving for a while, and almost sounds like a faint metal rubbing. It doesn't seem to affect driving, and i'm actually not sure if it was there before lowering either, because I can only hear it when next to other cars or close objects. Also, when I jacked up the car, I went under to do a little cleaning of the rear suspension and differential, and when I looked up at the differential housing it seemed like half of it was covered in a dark substance, while the other half was clean. Maybe the diff is leaking and that's causing the noise? I'm not sure, so I came to you guys...any ideas? Thanks in advance :cheers:
-Pete
-Pete
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,549
Likes: 30
From: Shenandoah Valley Virginia
Re: Problem with differential/rear...? (Pete99SS)
Pete-- It's a pretty common problem to have the seal on the driver's side of the differential go bad and start leaking. Do a search and check out the topics. It is not related to lowering the car. Check the fluid level and make sure that you are not too low.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 8,205
Likes: 40
From: Tucson AZ
Re: Problem with differential/rear...? (Pete99SS)
Sounds like a tire rubbing; check the fenders, brake lines, etc. for wear. The diff can leak, but many show some "vented" fluid. I would clean it as best as you can, and run it awhile to see if it truly is leaking. :yesnod:
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885
Likes: 0
From: Long Island NY
Re: Problem with differential/rear...? (carpe dm)
Thanks for the replies guys...I did a search on things. I don't think it's the tire, because it sounds like metal on metal, confirmed by people outside of the car listening as well. I read in a few posts that a sound like that could be made by the parking brake, slightly rubbing on the rotor. think this could be possible? The apparent remedy was to pull up the parking brake a tiny bit and see if it still makes the noise, which i'm going to try. Another interesting thing is the car was making this sound before I lowered the rear by cutting bushings, while it was still sitting pretty high in the rear. I may put one set of bushings back on each rear wheel to see what happens. thanks again :yesnod:
-Pete
-Pete
