All,
I mentioned a while back that my rear driver's wheel fell off while I was driving (someone tried to steal the wheel). Since then, I've been replacing parts in the rear to get everything back to normal.
Well, a low pitched whine starting happening when I got the car back on the road (mainly at highway speeds, 60+), and even though we've replaced almost everything, it's still there, although it's quieter.
Here's the details:
Wheel falls off the car.
Car goes to shop where we replace driver's spring perch and shock. We install new axles (Yukon) and bearings on both sides. And we rebalance the driveshaft.
I buy and install new wheels and tires.
Next, I start driving the car and after 200 miles or so the low pitched whine starts. Here's when it happens:
- After the car heats up, after roughly 5 min of driving or so.
- Initially, only at highway speeds. I first notice it at 70 mph, but as I get used to the noise I realize that I can hear it at speeds as low as 30 and as high as 80. Above 80 it's quiet.
- Only when my foot is moderately on the gas. If I'm coasting or braking, the noise is gone. Also, if I'm flooring the car, the noise is gone. It's only when I'm accelerating moderately.
We diagnose it as the ring/pinion gear. We get a brand new 3rd member and install it. The old one looks good, but we figure that not all problems can be visually identified.
Now I'm driving the car and it has 300 miles on the new 3rd member. I've driven it like a granny, no hard acceleration at all. I took it on the freeway for the first time this weekend and lo and behold, at 70 mph the whine is there, although quieter. The whine starts at about 65 and ends at 80mph. Same symptoms - it's only there under moderate acceleration.
So now I'm stumped. Could it be that the axle housing is slight bent from when the wheel fell off, and the axles are connecting with the 3rd member at a slight bad angle?
Any ideas? I'll do anything to fix this. This is the car I drive my 3 year old in, and I want it to be a safe ride.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Jim