Screamin'87GTA

I have a GTA with a 3:73 rear gear. When i get to about 40 - 45 the howling comences! What do i need to do to fix this? better yet what causes it? I have heard there is too much of a gap between the teath, giving it to much play.

Any suggestions?

MdFormula350

some howling could be caused by the pinion nut in front is not tight enough, at least i think so.

TKOPerformance

Check the rear for slop. How far will the pinion turn before the axelshaft starts to turn. On older, high mileage cars it isn't uncommon to find 1/4 turn or more slop. You can usually pull the yoke, seal, and front bearing and just replace the crush collar and reset the bearing preload. I've done this a lot and as long as the bearings aren't wasted the noise will go away.

You should probably also remove the rear cover from rear and inspect the gears. Check the backlash if you're able. It should be between .006 and .010". If it's significantly greater than that the gearset and bearings are worn and should be replaced with new parts. Also, keep you eye out for large chunks of metal and anything unusual on the gearset like sharp edges, cracks, chips, and missing teeth.