Strange noises coming from my rear end

[SVOeric]

NO GATOR, Not that rear end!!!

You guys Probably know I drove my SVO home this weekend (hurray!!)

Everything went smooth as can be.. but I had a few strange noises coming from the rear end that I was not able to identify...

When going in a straight line, or a small curve, I never hear a sound...

But when I'm making a sharper turn, like in a parking lot, I hear a creaking sound coming from the rear end, that lasts as long as I am in the sharp turn.

I say creeking, because it sounds like a old squeeky door opening

I have a new bottle of friction modifier, and synthetic grease ready to change the rear-end lube, but didn't get to it before the trip. But I dont think these noises are coming from the diferential itself.

I have completly rebuilt the front suspension, but I haven't touched the rear (yet). I have a full set of polly bushings for the rear suspension that I have not installed yet, but havn't decided which bushings I was going to replace with polly. I know if you change them all to polly, it will bind.

So, What do you guys think this noise is?? differential, or bushings, or somthing I am completly missing??

[svobud]

Sounds like you didn't add friction modifier to the rear end fluid.

[SVOeric]

I have the stuff to change it ready to put it.
I'll give that a try tonight, and see if it helps.

I have never changed the fluid in the rear. I dont remember it making this noise before it sat being worked over.

Wonder if the friction modifier can lose it's strength after sitting for a while ????


BTW: for anyone that has ever held a bottle of friction modifier in their hand, PLease tell me how it stinks through the sealed bottle!!!!!

[gbeaird]

They are probably not very careful about filling and caping the bottle. It is easy to unscrew and can come loose in shipping. Also, plastic is not very air tight. It will still exchange air (and worse, water vapor) from the outside with the contents inside. That is why it is not a good idea to use brake fluid from a plastic container.
We put Red Line in the back or our 86. I was told it had enough friction-fighting compounds that it didn't need the Friction Modifier. I put Redline in the diff when we repacked the clutches, without Friction Modifier and have had no problems with noise from the diff.


Gene Beaird
86 SVO, G Stock
Pearland, Texas

[SVOeric]

oh .. it is sealed, there is even a foil seal under the cap!!

You are probably right about plastic tho...

I didn't get a chance to work on the diferential last night. I was working on some other SVO stuff


I'll post after I change it, and let you guys know if it helped the noise...

[SVO1986]

You may want to take a look at your axle bearings.
I had a similar noise. It was the axle bearings.

[SVOeric]

DANG IT!!

Bud, I hate it when you are right.. (and you usually are!!)

I changed the diff fluid today, .. well I actually I drained it yesterday, and put the pan back on to let the RTV seal up good. Then filled it up this morning. with mobil one synthetic gear lube , and a bottle of Ford friction modifier. When I pulled out of the driveway, I could already tell it had made a difference.

I went to the nearest church parking lot, and did figure 8's for about 10 minutes, and it was nice and quiet.

Now I'm off to auto-zone, to buy one of those $2 rubber insulators for my steering shaft. I'm planning on getting one of the flaming river shafts, but that purchase is awaiting funds

[svobud]

Hey - at least it was only the friction modifier....could have been worse, like a damaged axle or bearing.

[SVOeric]

Yea.. that is true, Guess I was happy you were right..

BTW: I picked up the Steering Coupling Disc from autozone, it wasn't $2, it was $10.

But this thing looks like it was made better than the original .. it is heavy duty rubber, with what looks like fiber reinforcements..

this will hold nicely til I can get my flaming river shaft. I'm going to TRY to go out and install it now.. but it is DANG HOT outside...