Howl and Whine

Howling or whining of the ring gear and pinion is due to an improper gear pattern, gear damage or improper bearing preload. It can occur at various speeds and driving conditions or it can be continuous. Before disassembling the axle to diagnose and correct gear noise, eliminate the tires, exhaust, trim items, roof racks and axle shafts and rear wheel bearings as possible causes. The noises usually have specific causes that can be diagnosed by observation as the unit is disassembled. The initial clues are, of course, the type of noise heard on the road test and the driving conditions.