Non-Axle Noise

The five most common sources of non-axle noise are exhaust, tires, roof racks, trim mouldings and transmission.

Therefore, make sure that none of the following conditions are the cause of the noise before proceeding with an axle teardown and diagnosis.
- In certain conditions, the pitch of the exhaust may sound very much like gear noise. At other times, it can be mistaken for a wheel bearing rumble.
- Tires, especially snow tires, can have a high-pitched tread whine or roar, similar to gear noise. Radial tires, to some degree, have this characteristic. Also, any non-standard tire with an unusual tread construction may emit a roar or whine-type noise.
- Trim and mouldings can also cause whistling or whining noise.
- Clunk may be a metallic noise heard when the automatic transmission is engaged in REVERSE or DRIVE, or it may occur when throttle is applied or released. It is caused by backlash somewhere in the driveline; it is felt or heard in the axle.
- Bearing whine is a high-pitched sound similar to a whistle. It is usually caused by malfunctioning pinion bearings, which are operating at driveshaft speed. Roller wheel bearings may whine the same way if they run completely dry. Bearing noise occurs at all driving speeds; this distinguishes it from gear whine, which usually comes and goes as speed changes.
- Bearing rumble sounds like marbles being tumbled. This condition is usually Caused by a malfunctioning wheel bearing. This lower pitched sound occurs because the wheel bearing turns at only about one third of driveshaft speed.
- Wheel bearing noise might be mistaken for pinion bearing noise, so always evaluate the wheel bearings carefully before tearing down the axle. Pinion bearings make a high pitched, whistling noise, usually at all ends However, if there is only one pinion bearing that is malfunctioning, the noise may vary in different driving phases.

Rear wheel bearings are pressed into the rear wheel knuckle assembly. The rear hub is pressed into the rear wheel bearings. The rear halfshaft is pressed into the splines on the rear hubs.