My rear end is making a noise (not a fart this time...lol) like steel on steel and whining. It started after my first launch at the strip. It got WAY too much traction and at the end when i let off the gas it just grinds. Someone thinks that it is the bearings but how would that ruin the bearings? I drove the car a half hour home and it did it real bad. Not noticeable at 10 mph though. If I launch it does not heasitate. It has the race 3.73 richmonds in it with a powertrax locker. Any one have this problem? thank you

Eric

 

i'd stop driving it and take the carrier and axles out, but not in that order. didn't think richmond made race gears for 7.5, but if they do they'll wear out real fast driving on the street.

 

So then when I do that what exactly am I looking for? Would a hard launch hurt the bearings? I am pretty sure if it was the ring and/or pinion gears it would be stripping and make a stripping sound. It doesn't.

 

bad bearings, gaulding (sp?), missing or chipped teeth, rought spots o nthe teeth, anything that doesn't look like it did when you installed it.

 

A hard launch with good traction will stress the rear more than anything else. Take it apart before it trashes everything. How much power are you making? I agree, race richmonds are strip only gears--they are softer. How old are the bearings and what brand are they? Your set-up is similiar to mine, I'm running the regular richmond 3.73's, powertrax locker, all new timkin bearings, synthetic lube--no problems here, did the install 6 years ago.

 

ok. Sorry guys. Made a mistake. Street gears. Bearings are only 2yrs old. I know that this is dangerous but I put the car on jack stands and put it in gear and got it up to speed. It did NOT make the noise. It appears to only make the noise when the car is traveling and when the throttle is not engaged (all rpm's). Perhaps maybe even u-joints? See...I just assume it is the rear. I am in the car. If I were outside it I could tell. It is coming from the rear of the car. 423 hp to the flywheel. Not sure to the rear wheels. Probably like 300. (700R4) Street tires with a 1.72 60' time. Converter also made for the car (3750 stall) This is the second year for the combination. Just scared to drive it. I can NOT work on it where it is.

 

U-joints don't usually whine or grind. Bad gears and/or bearings may not make noise without any load. Your test really doesn't tell you much. Pull the diff cover, it's only 2 quarts of fluid.

 

Good Point. I am just lazy I guess.