Front End question. Pinion Bearing noise

[Guerrero]

Hello again!

I wrote few months ago, that I had a pinion bearing noise...it seemed to be a pinion bearing preload issue..So..I tried to tight a bit the pinion nut..and I got it. A very small increment..but it seem that the pinion bearing preload is it still loose.
So my plan is to retorque the pinion nut..trying to achieve preload (but the real problem is that I dont know if a have bad bearings and retorque of the pinion nut is only worse).

I read a lot about friction modifiers....additives for the differential that reduces pinion bearing noise...do you test an additive for this porpuse? Did that worked?

Thanks you so much!

 

[cgalpha08]

Tightening the pinion nut is only a temporary fix, a bandaid. One of the bearings is bad in there and you'll need to rebuild the diff. Otherwise it'll keep whining and making noise until the bearing itself breaks apart, then you may have more problems like gear teeth being chipped etc etc.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[4speedfunk]

Agreed. However, you have ask “what do you have to lose?” I’ve tightened some that failed a week later...and some that lasted ten years.

I’ll clarify that the one that lasted ten-years was not an AAM-7.6.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[alrock]

Agreed. However, you have ask “what do you have to lose?” I’ve tightened some that failed a week later...and some that lasted ten years.

I’ll clarify that the one that lasted ten-years was not an AAM-7.6.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Really? But you love the AAM 7.6 so much! Haha

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[4speedfunk]

Actually...it’s a great axle.

In a street car half the weight of an H3.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Guerrero]

I am thinking trying a fluid change in the front diff. 75w90 with an additive (LSD additive or a friction modifier).
I think too about trying a 75w140...what option do you think is better? (Possible?)

Thabks u so much

 

[Guerrero]

Anyone?

 

[atvspeed4]

Anyone?

Fluid change isn't going to fix a pinion bearing so that is probably why no one is responding. My 2008 alpha has really bad pinion bearing right now and two of my other H3s did as well. Its common problem for these undersized diffs. That's why I ended up building a custom diff so annoying....

Just have it replaced and be done with it for a while.

 

[Guerrero]

Thanks you so much atvspeed4...

I recently discover that Outfitter Design Company is yours! Congratulations! Its a great company, and I bought from you in 2013 (i think) the Steering rack reinforcement kit and the DIY diff bushing kit.

I changed all three bushing in the front diff and the difference is awesome! But...in the moment I installed the diff kit with delrin bushing, the pinion noise appeared. So...I know that with the solid mount a certain amount of noise is normal. Do you have like a pinion bearing noise with the front diff delring bushing?

I dont know if actually I have a pinion bearing problem or is it only because the solid mount change.

Thanks you so much, your kits are awesome. Very very recomended for off road use. I want to go to the Tie rods kit in a while

 

[cgalpha08]

Thanks you so much atvspeed4...

I recently discover that Outfitter Design Company is yours! Congratulations! Its a great company, and I bought from you in 2013 (i think) the Steering rack reinforcement kit and the DIY diff bushing kit.

I changed all three bushing in the front diff and the difference is awesome! But...in the moment I installed the diff kit with delrin bushing, the pinion noise appeared. So...I know that with the solid mount a certain amount of noise is normal. Do you have like a pinion bearing noise with the front diff delring bushing?

I dont know if actually I have a pinion bearing problem or is it only because the solid mount change.

Thanks you so much, your kits are awesome. Very very recomended for off road use. I want to go to the Tie rods kit in a while

Probably a pinion bearing issue. I had the same thing happen to me when I put the upgraded bushings in. You'll get some more road noise with the upgraded bushings, but it shouldn't be very loud. There's a big difference between more noise from the road and a pinion issue. It's hard to explain what the difference is, perhaps someone else will chime in.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[atvspeed4]

Thanks! On my 2008 I bought it with 114k miles and the day we installed the bushing kit it became apparent that the rubber bushings were covering up a pinion bearing issue. I think the issue might be made worse due to the crush sleeve giving a little and with the massive amount of torque that the little pinion sees slams the bearing every time it's under load and can ruin the gears if it gets bad enough and left too long. The diff we swapped in with plastic bushings doesn't make any of the noises or vibrations that the bad pinion bearing made and we are running a u joint top and bottom on our driveshaft. I know Toyota guys often run solid pinion spacers with shims instead of crush sleeves but we haven't had enough time to look into that to see if that's something that could help stock diff applications

 

[4speedfunk]

A real tell-tale of a pinion bearing issue is if the pitch of the whining (or growling) changes between power, cruise, and coast. Most of the time...pinions will rattle loudest at highway cruise, and get quieter under acceleration or deceleration.

Of course the H3 is cursed with all sorts of things that can rattle, grind, rumble, squeak, or whine. So make sure the rest of your driveline is in good shape. The best test is to grab the yoke and feel for excessive lash.

 

[Guerrero]

Thanks you so much for all your responds! I will try to tighten the pinion nut, and if that fails....then replace the pinion bearing along with new ring and pinion...

What is the best choice? For Pinion bearings parts and rin and pinion parts..I heard about yukon parts...but really I dont Know what to choose...and what parts are involved for a total rebuild.

Thank you again!

 

[4speedfunk]

I like AAM parts. They sell specific service kits for each part of the axle. They have several pre-packaged kits for different stages of rebuild...
http://www.demandaam.com/axle-results?vm=GM&q=7.6"+IFS+-+Front+Axle

Here’s the bearing kit... https://m.ebay.com/itm/AAM-GM-7-6-I...950217&hash=item239475db8a:g:1j8AAOSwKtlWnURJ

I prefer Yukon gears but the AAM gears are nice too. Each has their own setup specs that must be followed (2-cut or 5-cut). Don’t get this wrong or you’ll have big problems.
You may not need a new gearset...always best to get it apart before you start ordering parts. An AAM 7.6 can break the bank if you start replacing everything. Pinion bearing failures are common and if caught early...only require a few parts.

 

[Guerrero]

Thank you so much 4speedfunk....today I've tried to tight a bit more the pinion, i get a good used bearings preload...but...now is a lot noisier..so I think is time for a pinion bearings replace.

I am from Spain, and I have a trip at 19 to 21 December. I cant buy the set of bearings from this site: https://m.ebay.com/itm/AAM-GM-7-6-IF...8AAOSwKtlWnURJ
Because it doesnt have international shipment. I look a lot of pags and its almost impossible to buy only this bearing kit at that price. I want to buy that kit and send it via DHL to me, customs paid before, so i can have it at home 11 or 12 December...

I dont know what to do....suggestions? The bearing is super noisy, now, so I think I have to replace the bearings right now.