burlhall

I've put 6,000 miles on my new truck and the rear differential has started to whine (at least that is what I think it is). Have any of you been able to eliminate a differential whine by replacing the gear lube with synthetic lube? Thought I would use Valvoline 70-140 senthetic. The owner's manual says to use 40-90 weight senthetic. Which weight do you folks recommend? Also, do you drain the differential by removing the inspection plate? I did not see a drain plug. Thanks for any suggestions that you may have.

tony

Mine developed a whine the first week I had the truck. The dealer agreed there was a problem, but STAR would not approve any repairs as they think a heavy duty truck should make noise.

The dealer did replaced the fluid with Dodge synthetic 75W-140, and the rear axle noise did not decrease at all. When I discovered 75W-140 was used, I went back to the dealer to replace the oil.

The oil is drained by removing the cover or pumping.

Hemi Cat

That's a warrenty repair. If it is making noise at 5ooo miles there is something drastically wrong!!! Make them repair it first, then go with a synthetic. You have to remove the rear cover to change the fluid.

bulabula

burlhall, I wouldn't do a thing until the whine is documented.

If you go ahead and change the fluid yourself in the hopes that the noise will magically disappear, they might try and use it against you when it does come time for any possible warranty work. Remember: no good deed goes unpunished.

Factory fill was 75W-90 synthetic; I'd use nothing less ..... What gears do you have in it anyways?

burlhall

Bulabula, I've got 3.73 gears. Doing a little research on this site, it appears that 3.73 gears are more prone to whine than the 4.10 gears. I've also got the limited slip axle which tends to bind up a little in a tight turn (had the same problem on a 99 Ford). Don't know if the two problems are related but it seems to me that they might be. Someone on this site said that the whining problem started when DC switched from Dana to American Axle. I agree, it makes sense to have the dealer "try" to fix my truck but I've lost all confidence in most dealers. I ususally try to fix anything that I can before going to a dealer. However, you make a good point: changing the gear lube probably won't fix the problem and then the dealer and DC may say that I caused or contributed to the problem. I was sure hoping that this truck would be trouble free.

burlhall

Just read a thread titled "New drive shaft ordered for 20 mph whistle." Sure sounds like the same problem I've got.

GregMc

Ring and pinion was replaced in my truck at 20K miles. It is a 3.73 limited slip. All was quiet for about 5000 miles, then it started making noise again. The noise now is louder in when coasting; i think that means the backlash is a little loose. It just rolled over to 30K and I plan on taking it in tomorrow. I hope they get it right this time.

Sirdrakejr

I have just over 3000 miles on my 3500SWR and with the colder weather ( yes, down to the high 20s already) the rear end on my truck whines until it warms up. I wonder if the lubing is not doing the job until it warms up and works it's way thru the gears. It isn't so much a whine as a funny howl. It is a 3.73 limited slip RE and didn't do it until the cold hit. Any other ideas?

Jc9995

Listen really close the noise. I have it too, but if you really feather the throttle and slowly decelerate, you can hear it change when the tranny shift down. I dont think its the rear end. Mine is the same though, the colder it gets the louder it is.

blownaway

I have it too and I was thinking it was the planetaries in the Automatic Trans.

katoiler

Check out this thread on my rear end.It started with a whine these rears are junk in my opinion!
http://www.tdr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118731

lt11le

i have 11k on my truck and the rear whistles and the posi hasn't worked for months. now that it's cold it's very loud.

nonford

My 98 had a slight whine. Got, a tad louder, and then louder and then louder and...had my pitted bearings replaced. That was my experience with a whine. After I had that worked, I started looking @ Dodge pumpkins on the road. Seen quite a few with a polished cover on them.
Mine was replaced @ 39K.

J&L

There is a TSB 03-004-04 for axle whine dated 6/22/04 in TDR mag issue 46 page 79.
this bulletin applies to 4x2 ,2500 series, 140.5 inch wheel base vehicles equipped with diesel engine, sales code ETC/ETh, and an automatic transmission, sales code DG8. The problem is that some vehicles may exhibit rear axle whine at speeds between 35 and 70 mph. The repair procedure involves indentification of the pinion flange and propeller shaft that the vehicle is equipped with. If a repair is necessary, the propeller shaft is replaced using the chart listing the appropriate part numbers.
Took mine to the dealer last month with bad rear axle whine . Dealer was going to change R/P gear but Star says no to the change that big rear ends are supposed to whine. Hope AAM/Dodge gets their **** together for a fix ,my ears are ringing..........JIM

katoiler

I think they need to give that junk back to GM and go back to the tried and true Dana!Never hurt a Dana and I've put some of them through He**!