Mine has a howl . Had the bearings done in it and they said the pattern was perfect and it still howls. Now I just turn the radio up a little louder or drive faster were it does not howl.

 

I bought my CTD in September 2003. I had this gear train howl right from the start. I took it back to the selling dealer and they tried to tell me it was just tire noise. I drove the truck for a few more months and then took it back to be checked again as I was going to make a long trip towing the 5er. Again they said nothing wrong. I made the trip with no problem but the irritating noise, I took the truck to the dealer that I bought my 99 from and within 30 minites they said they were ordering a new ring and pinion. It was installed and no more noise. The selling dealer has lost all business from me.

 

When I was buying my truck at the end of August last year I drove around the dealership some looking at trucks and what not. I remember seeing a stack of rear axles piled outside the rear door of the service department. I remember wondering about that at the time but I bought the truck anyway.

 

The rear in mine is fine. I lost the front end diff bearings which wore out the gears at about 36k. I changed oil every 15k with mobil1

 

the seal went on outside left on mine at 20000m, transfer case started leaking slowly at 5000