A couple days ago I started hearing this noise. When driving it sounds like a growling rasp, but with the rear end up on jack stands and the trans. in neutral it sounds more like a steady click as you turn either of the wheels. It sounds like its coming from the axle/wheel bearings, but what I don't know about is that while driving the sound only occurs when I give it some gas, even just a tiny bit, but once I let off the pedal and let it coast the sound is gone. I guess I just want some advice on what part of the axle I should be looking at to find this, and most importantly will I be better off just getting a disk brake axle from an 03 and just writing this axle off? If this is something dad and I can just do with the axle in the truck easily I'd rather just do that, but if I'm looking at a full rebuild and all that I'd prefer to just change it out with a disk brake and LSD axle. My only concern with getting a used junkyard axle is that I don't want to get one that is almost ready to get to where mine is and be replacing things in a few years, I want a good long term repair.

As always, I appreciate all the advice I can get.

 

I'm having the exact same problem. Changed the fluid in the rear, but the whine/grinding continues. A friend thinks I may need to replace the bearings and seal. I'm still looking for any viable answer. Good luck!

 

I'm leaning towards it being the pinion bearing. I've got the rear axle up on jack stands and put it in drive and it makes the noise, put it in reverse and it happens, but its not nearly as bad, so my guess would be outer pinion bearing. I also changed the fluid, and it looked like some moisture had been in there, a little rust on some surfaces it looked like... Not excite about whatever comes next, thats for sure.

 

Well, I guess dad has done this a few times and is willing to do it, so I ordered a Koyo rebuild kit (only cost me $95 since I had some money sitting in my PayPal account already!) with all the bearings, seals and shims I need I just need to get the wheel/axle bearings from Advance (same store we get most parts from) as I didn't see any kits that included those sadly. And I'll have printed off the 02 FSM pages on the subject so we know what the specs are for the pinion bearing preload and such... So wish us luck!

 

I would like to know how you come out. I have the same noise and a mechanic told me it was the pinion bearings as well.

 

Good luck! And make sure you let us know of the outcome. I've got the same noise and figured it was those pinion bearings but didnt want to tear into it without knowing for sure, or until I bought my replacement gears as I'm changing the ratio and adding LS.

 

Well my truck is all repaired and back together. It was the inner pinion bearing, when it came out we saw it was a pitted mess, so we got it back together with no trouble really, even centering the carrier was easy, we got it on the first try. The main challenge was taking the pinion nut off, and then putting it on and crushing the crush sleeve without an impact wrench... But we got it and got the drag on the pinion right at 30 inch pounds. I know a lot of people on here tend to shy away from the job and go with another used axle, but it really wasn't that bad, and I've got brand new bearings rather than another set of used ones in unknown condition, and I'd definitely say its something pretty much anyone could do so long as you have an impact wrench or a very large ratchet and pipe wrench.

 

Thanx for updating on the fix. Maybe I'll tackle mine in one of the upcoming weekends

 

Agreed... Buy tools, not labor, and learn in the process.