Ive got an 8 3/4 741 3:55 SG. There's a bit of a howl and some slop in the drive shaft.

I see ads for gears that are "quiet street gears" and believe there is supposed to be some play in the drive shaft.

So how much is too much so you know when its time to replace your pumpkin?

Thanks!

I thought the howl was typically shot bearings in the rear?

the slop you feel...is that from the transmission or the gears?

you'll know your pumpkin is done when it locks up on you!

you could pull the axles and pumpkin out, and check the condition of everything. chances are you've lost a bearing, and if you keep running it that way, the metal in the gear lube will eat away the rest of the bearings, and hte gears.

You should only have about .010 freeplay in the rear yoke when you turn it back and forth.

.010 of backlash will give you a decent amount or freeplay in the driveshaft if you're not used to feeling good ones. The noise on the other hand is a bad sign. Any noise means the gears are not meshing properly. That's not always fatal, but when you hear guys say "Steep gears are like that" it's a load of bunk. If the gears are noisey under light acceleration, and get louder with more load (try going up a steep hill), or are loud under gear braking, they have a problem. If you have noise that gets louder or goes away when you swerve back andd forth at steady speed, its the axle bearings not the carrier or pinion bearings. If it's a cone type sure grip and slips a little, just figure on replacing everything at some point.

you will no when your walking

you need DR DIFF

What happens if the rear howls when you let off the gas/ coast. Does that mean the gears are not meshing correctly?